Younis Khan 218 vs Azhar Ali 205*, which was better?

[GLORY OF '92]

Hard to choose. That YK knock took us to no.1 but Azhar has performed a miracle for a Pakistani batsman in Australia.

Thoughts?

 

[Pete Rose]

Yk. As it won us the match. If this one wins the match then I would rank it higher

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Younis' innings.It was a matchwinning effort while it's yet to be seen what the result of this match will be(likely a draw)

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

YK.

He was under immense pressure and was hugely criticised.


Reflexes at 43 do not help either.

Had he not scored we would not have have drawn the series.


Still Azhar's knock was supreme. His best Test Innings in my view.

 

[Buffet]

Let other team bat here as well.

 

[The_Odd_One]

Younis played a more important knock. However, if somehow, Pakistan win this one, it will be as good as Younis'.

 

[hitthestump]

Younis. Not many senior citizens can score double hundreds in England.

 

[Vivek_86]

Younis innings was against better attack

 

[Mamoon]

Azhar's innings was of a much higher class. He opened against Starc and Hazlewood while Younis got a head start because he faced Moeen first up who was bowling pies, and Cook's field placings were poor as well.

However, Azhar innings isn't a match-winning one.

 

[QalandarFan]

Younis Khan's cause it won us the match and he was under loads of pressure to perform! What an innings he played kept a SR of about 70 throughout the innings!

Although If we win this match I'll rate them equally giving Azhar a slight edge.

 

[Asim2Good]

Ashar's innings was of a much higher class. He opened against Starc and Hazlewood while Younis got a head start because he faced Moeen first up who was bowling pies, and Cook's field placings were poor as well.

However, Azhar innings isn't a match-winning one.

yes let's forget the fact that Anderson was bowling from other end When YK came into bat.
Ali bowled 3-4 overs along with Anderson when YK came into bowl,
Then Finn & Anderson bowled from both end for few overs.
Then Woaks & Finn bowled from both ends.
and lets forget he also faced 2nd new ball too.

At moment its YK innings at it was winning one & level the series for Pakistan

 

[Mamoon]

yes let's forget the fact that Anderson was bowling from other end When YK came into bat.
Ali bowled 3-4 overs along with Anderson when YK came into bowl,
Then Finn & Anderson bowled from both end for few overs.
Then Woaks & Finn bowled from both ends.
and lets forget he also faced 2nd new ball too.

At moment its YK innings at it was winning one & level the series for Pakistan

The ball was in perfect condition fo batting. It wasn't new enough to swing and not old enough to reverse. Younis couldn't have asked for a better time to start his innings.

Given how wretched he looked in England, he needed that bit of luck and certain things falling in place for him to get going. That's the thing with Younis, once he is set, it is very difficult to dislodge him and you have to strike when he is at his most vulnerable, that is the start of his innings.

 

[Asim2Good]

The ball was in perfect condition fo batting. It wasn't new enough to swing and not old enough to reverse. Younis couldn't have asked for a better time to start his innings.

Given how wretched he looked in England, he needed that bit of luck and certain things falling in place for him to get going. That's the thing with Younis, once he is set, it is very difficult to dislodge him and you have to strike when he is at his most vulnerable, that is the start of his innings.

excuses excuses excuses
where it ll end ?

 

[Buffet]

Let other team bat here as well.

Other team is on 204/1 in 43 overs. Let this inning finish and then it will be fair to compare two knocks by Pakistani batsmen.

 

[Ashraful_Rox]

Azhar Ali's knock, is this the first time any Pakistani has over scored a double ton in Oz Land?

Azhar is the new VVS, YK is overrated, should retire now

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Younis was an old man in cricketing terms when he hit that double century whilst Azhar is currently at the peak of his career. With that in mind I'd pick the YK innings.

 

[Abdul]

Azhar's knock comfortably.

If Pakistan don't win, then that obviously wouldn't be Azhar's fault, our bowlers should be blamed for being incompetent and not having the ability to pick up wickets.

 

[Zohaib Shah]

Younus Khan is a better striker of the ball than Azhar. Plus his innings won us the match.

 

[Mamoon]

excuses excuses excuses
where it ll end ?

I'm explaining why - in terms of quality of batting - Azhar's knock was superior.

 

[Asim2Good]

I'm explaining why - in terms of quality of batting - Azhar's knock was superior.

no other excuse left on ur side ?

here is why YK innings was better
Paksitan 1-2 down in series.
When YK came into bat, already under pressure, team is still 200 runs behind
with 7 wickets down, lead for Pak was only about 70, so match was still in England's reach.
Batted beautifully with tail and took lead past 200
added about 100 runs Amir at 9th wickets in abt 20 overs to take game away from England
able to win match for Pak in end with that knock and level the series

 

[Mamoon]

no other excuse left on ur side ?

here is why YK innings was better
Paksitan 1-2 down in series.
When YK came into bat, already under pressure, team is still 200 runs behind
with 7 wickets down, lead for Pak was only about 70, so match was still in England's reach.
Batted beautifully with tail and took lead past 200
added about 100 runs Amir at 9th wickets in abt 20 overs to take game away from England
able to win match for Pak in end with that knock and level the series

Circumstances has nothing to do with quality of batting. Azhar scored on a tougher pitch against more menacing bowlers and he opened the innings which means he had to negotiate the new ball unlike Younis.

Younis wasn't the only centurion in that innings while the only good score by a recognized batsman here was 50. Azhar also had to bat with the tail - Pakistan had 268 on the board only when Sarfraz was dismissed, and Azhar added 175 with Amir, Sohail and Wahab.

Azhar's innings was also more timely. The series was still open before our bowlers got hammered and Pakistan could have won the series 2-1 theoretically.

Younis' innings arrived when the best Pakistan could hope for was to level the series. The fact that Younis clowned around for 3 Tests was a major reason why Pakistan was 2-1 down and not 2-1 up or 1-1.

 

[shaz619]

[MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] so the Azhar knock was better then Younis ?

 

[Mamoon]

[MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] so the Azhar knock was better then Younis ?

Yes. However, if it turns out to be a match-losing one (it has draw written all over, but only one team is likely to force a result now), it will be understandable to see a lot of people rate Younis' innings higher.

Nonetheless, we should remember that Azhar cannot bowl for the team. He did his job like Younis, but our bowlers also delivered at The Oval but they have failed badly here. Our shambolic bowling - or Australia's exceptional batting - should not demean the significance of Azhar's innings.

 

[shaz619]

Yes. However, if it turns out to be a match-losing one (it has draw written all over, but only one team is likely to force a result now), it will be understandable to see a lot of people rate Younis' innings higher.

Nonetheless, we should remember that Azhar cannot bowl for the team. He did his job like Younis, but our bowlers also delivered at The Oval but they have failed badly here. Our shambolic bowling - or Australia's exceptional batting - should not demean the significance of Azhar's innings.

You also tend to give more credit to match winning efforts so even though we'll end up drawing you can still rate Azhar Ali's knock a lot more because were it not for the rain you believe Pakistan would have won, but if you don't believe Pakistan would have won that would mean picking Khan's knock over Azhar's and it's a big no no for you You're caught in a bit of a web On a level though, this Azhar knock was incredible in it's own right but as you've said before he can lack that x-factor to make an impact and it's a quality which Khan does not lack. However, we also got to remember that Azhar is an opener as well; there should be a different measuring stick which is used for that x-factor quality we look for when it comes to making an impact in comparison to the one we use for a no.3 or no.4 batsman

 

[Mamoon]

You also tend to give more credit to match winning efforts so even though we'll end up drawing you can still rate Azhar Ali's knock a lot more because were it not for the rain you believe Pakistan would have won, but if you don't believe Pakistan would have won that would mean picking Khan's knock over Azhar's and it's a big no no for you You're caught in a bit of a web On a level though, this Azhar knock was incredible in it's own right but as you've said before he can lack that x-factor to make an impact and it's a quality which Khan does not lack. However, we also got to remember that Azhar is an opener as well; there should be a different measuring stick which is used for that x-factor quality we look for when it comes to making an impact in comparison to the one we use for a no.3 or no.4 batsman

Azhar lacks impact because most of the times he doesn't score quickly enough to put Pakistan in a winning position. This innings was a bit of an exception because although in a rain hit game it didn't amount to much, it was one of his most fluent innings ever and had we not lost almost a full day due to rain, it could have put Pakistan in a commanding position had the bowlers bowled well.

Younis certainly has impacted a lot of wins for Pakistan. Once he is set, he scores big and scores relatively quickly. Not sure about his impact in the England series though. Sure he helped us level the series but it could also be argued that his consistent failures in the first 3 Tests was the reason why a 10 man Pakistan was losing the series.

 

[hadi123]

will be able to comment after the result of this match

 

[Asim2Good]

Circumstances has nothing to do with quality of batting. Azhar scored on a tougher pitch against more menacing bowlers and he opened the innings which means he had to negotiate the new ball unlike Younis.

Younis wasn't the only centurion in that innings while the only good score by a recognized batsman here was 50. Azhar also had to bat with the tail - Pakistan had 268 on the board only when Sarfraz was dismissed, and Azhar added 175 with Amir, Sohail and Wahab.

Azhar's innings was also more timely. The series was still open before our bowlers got hammered and Pakistan could have won the series 2-1 theoretically.

Younis' innings arrived when the best Pakistan could hope for was to level the series. The fact that Younis clowned around for 3 Tests was a major reason why Pakistan was 2-1 down and not 2-1 up or 1-1.

First degrading YK's knock on same principles and now circumstances doesn't matter?

 

[Mamoon]

First degrading YK's knock on same principles and now circumstances doesn't matter?

I didn't 'degrade' his knock. A 200 is a 200 no matter what. However, in comparison to Azhar's knock, it was inferior because he didn't face the new ball and faced plenty of Moeen upfront which allowed him to settle. On the other hand, Azhar opened against Starc and Hazlewood.

Younis' innings was great; Azhar's innings was exceptional.

 

[hur rizvi]

Younus's innings was better because it lead to a series leveling win

 

[Asim2Good]

I didn't 'degrade' his knock. A 200 is a 200 no matter what. However, in comparison to Azhar's knock, it was inferior because he didn't face the new ball and faced plenty of Moeen upfront which allowed him to settle. On the other hand, Azhar opened against Starc and Hazlewood.

Younis' innings was great; Azhar's innings was exceptional.

plenty of Moeen upfront, lol
go check it, he bowled 3-4 overs along with Anderson and that too becaue he waas was one who took previous wicket. rest post 11 to see who he face upfront. if u wanna go back into cricles, thats another story.

 

[Napa]

Azhar's innings was of a much higher class. He opened against Starc and Hazlewood while Younis got a head start because he faced Moeen first up who was bowling pies, and Cook's field placings were poor as well.

However, Azhar innings isn't a match-winning one.

I was going to say YK because Pak won that match, but Mamoon's arguments are compelling. Also while YK's innings may have won the match, it appears that without AA's innings Pak would be looking at a certain defeat.

 

[New Yorker]

I didn't 'degrade' his knock. A 200 is a 200 no matter what. However, in comparison to Azhar's knock, it was inferior because he didn't face the new ball and faced plenty of Moeen upfront which allowed him to settle. On the other hand, Azhar opened against Starc and Hazlewood.

Younis' innings was great; Azhar's innings was exceptional.

After the way the Aussies have batted, much of the lustre has already come off Azhar's innings.

Who would you rather have opening for you, Warner or Azhar?

 

[miandadrules]

I'd say Younis Khan's.

The lead was 69 when Sarfraz was the 7th man out. Younis took it to 203, scoring 90+ of those additional 134.

So, basically he took it from a good lead to a series equaling one.

 

[Pete Rose]

After the way the Aussies have batted, much of the lustre has already come off Azhar's innings.

Who would you rather have opening for you, Warner or Azhar?

I would take the guy averaging 55 this year vs the guy averaging 40

 

[MMHS]

I thought England took the 2nd ball (which happens to be new) right at the stroke of 81st overs; when PAK's score was around 300/4 - soon it became 320/6 with still 20 behind & YK left with Sarfu & a tail that had managed telephone digit scores. Of the last 200, he added about 130 against 2nd ball; which again happen to be on 3rd morning when England bowlers were fresh over night.

But, Mamoon has convinced me that Poms had bowled with one ball for 146 overs & without that 218, PAK still would have beaten England chasing around 275 in 4th innings. And, obviously we'll never discuss about Anderson, Broad, Finn & Woakes in English wickets - as Azhar faced Strac & Hazzlewood for his entire 9 hours Innings. Actually, it was more than YK, Cook should be given credit for bowling Moeen from both ends & Umpires as well to allow that when YK was batting.