Zaheer Abbas-Most artistic right handed batsmen ever?

[Harsh Thakor]

Today legendary Zaheer Abbas completes 75 years.Let us rekindle memories of this icon.

 

Zaheer Abbas ‘s strokes were like a manifestation of the soul of the game or ethereal beauty, as though God had sent him to bat. He resurrected cricket’s divinity in golden age like no one else. His timing and artistry was simply god gifted.In my view for sheer style and elegance no batsman ever surpassed Zaheer Abbas.,who held a bat like a wand. No batsman as gloriously drove a cricket ball on other side of extra cover or looked more like a painter making curves on board. It is hard to find an adjective to do full justice to the sheer poetry in Zaheer's batting whose strokes resembled the touches of a painters brush. His mere deft touches would send the best of balls scuttling to the boundary. Even when desecrating a bowling attack to pieces his strokes never lost the elements of composure or technique, like a boxer, poet and surgeon rolled into one. No batsman touched the core of your soul more than Zaheer who took one to region sof the divine.

 

 

Technically he was master, with shades of unorthodoxy because of his great inventive capability. Few batsman were better positioned when driving as Zaheer,who exhibited a flow that at times looked surreal. At his best he could improvise like a magician. He was an absolute master against fast-medium and spin bowling. Zaheer bewildered the purists with his very high back lift, with his bat coming down at the very last moment, to send ball crashing to the fence which looked inevitably like piercing the gate. When watching him, I was constantly reminded of a Ghazal sung by Jasjit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUMMARY OF ZAHEER ABBAS CRICKETING CAREER IN TEST, ODI AND FIRST CLASS CRICKET

 

 

 

 

In First class Cricket statistically Zaheer Abbas had Bradmanesque overtones, taking batting domination to magical heights.. No Overseas batsman displayed such an appetite for runs or staggered them at such a brisk rate as Zaheer who was the ultimate epitome of run accumulation. Zaheer was the only batsman ever to score a hundred in each innings of match on 8 occasions or score a century and a double century in the same match 4 times. Arguably no overseas batsman in English first class cricket plundered runs with the aura of an invincible emperor to the degree of Zaheer.Overall he scored 34,843 runs at an average of 51.54 with 108 centuries. He achieved the landmark of scoring over 1000 runs in a single English season 11 times’ must mention his classical century scored on the most treacherous of turning pitches against Kent, facing Derek Underwoood,

 

In test cricket he averaged 44.79 scoring 5062 runs in 79 tests, with 12 centuries and 20 fifties. However in he averaged only 31.77 overseas with 4 centuries as compared to 58.19 at home with 8 centuries .Overseas he was outstanding only in England where he averaged around 56.In test matches won Zaheer averaged 58.84 which is creditable.

 

 

In ODI's Zaheer Abbas scored at an average of 47.62 with 2572 runs with 7 centuries and 13 fifties I rate him  the 2nd best batsman of his day to Viv Richards in that form of cricket. Few batsmen ever were a greater personification of consistency as Zaheer,who was even prolific against top pace. Rarely have I seen batsman improvise better than Zaheer in an ODI,who exuded the wizardry of a magician. I would select Zaheer amongst my 10 best ODI batsmen of all time

 

 

 

 

 

 

EVALUATION OF ZAHEER ABBAS OVERALL

 

 

 

 

To me Zaheer Abbas was the most complete of all Pakistani batsmen. No Pakistani batsman blended all the ingredients like artistry, technical skill and concentration, in  a total package.

 

 

 

 

Did Zaheer Abbas rank amongst the all-time great batsmen? I feel to be bracketed as an all-time great in test cricket Zaheer should have come to the party more against genuine pace, when his team was facing a crisis and on bad wickets. True that Zaheer could dominate even good length balls coming on to the bat more than greats like Greg Chappell and in the degree of Viv Richards, but he often fell prey to a delivery pitched up to his nose He manipulated the gap with the wizardry of a magician but could be found wanting against the moving ball..Where he fell out was on temperament and to battle in a crisis. Zaheer was arguably suspect against express pace, unlike compatriot Majid Khan.

 

 

 

 

Still on flat pitches or batting strips or against spin bowling I would class Zaheer in the class of the very greatest. In his era I would place Zaheer amongst the top 6 batsmen of in test cricket at his best in 1978-79 I would have chosen Zaheer Abbas in my world XI. In One Day International cricket I would rank Zaheer Abbas amongst the best ever.

 

 

In the final analysis blending Test.ODI and First Class Cricket Zaheer Abbas should be awarded the tag of an ‘All-time great’ batsman .

 

 

 

 

As a captain he was ultra-defensive, but still led Pakistan to win their first ever series against England in 1984. He also led Pakistan to draw a rubber against all odds in India in 1983 and to a home serine victory against New Zealand in 1984.Away he faced a humiliating loss as a skipper in Australia in 1983-84, but all but led his side to a drawn series against New Zealand in 1985.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ZAHEER ABBAS AS A PERSON

 

 

 

 

What I admired about him was the grace and gentlemanly spirit he brought to the game.I can't forget the friendship he developed with Indian stalwarts like Bishen Bedi or Gavaskar.He played a positive role in the establishing of cordial relations of Indian players with their counterparts from Pakistan. At one stage he even gave generous advice to Indian star Azharuddin in how to change his grip the bat, after he had suffered reversal in form. Zaheer's advice to Azhar worked wonders.

 

 

Sadly he often fell a victim to the politics of Pakistan cricket and his efforts. It also pains me when I remember his tussles with Imran Khan and Javed Miandad for captaincy and his being unceremoniously dropped in early 19785 from the national team.

 

 

I would love a Zaheer Abbas to be reborn today to induct into it or resurrect the grace which is simply lost. It would simply give the game back it‘s soul.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 24, 2022 by Harsh Thakor

[Chakdephatte]

Harsh Thakor? Who exactly are you are a fan of? Harshal or Thakur? 

[zen]

Like many Pakistani cricketers, Zaheer’s record is influenced by playing in Pak and versus teams such as India (for e.g. scored 2-3 ODI 100s in a series v Ind in Pak iirc) so will not take “overall” stats at face value.
 

As for being “artistic”, I have not watched him bat apart from in clips so will not comment.  

 

Skimmed through the OP - it appears to be nicely written, displaying “Pak passion”!

 

Edited July 24, 2022 by zen

[HamHindustani]

Good attempt but generally the response in India would be GHANTAA

[Tattieboy]

3 hours ago, zen said:

Like many Pakistani cricketers, Zaheer’s record is influenced by playing in Pak and versus teams such as India (for e.g. scored 2-3 ODI 100s in a series v Ind in Pak iirc) so will not take “overall” stats at face value.
 

As for being “artistic” (btw, the title should read left-hander not right), I have not watched him bat apart from in clips so will not comment.  

The most artistic left handers that I have seen are probably Lara and Sangakkara (and Gowar but he was not in his prime in early 90s).

 

Skimmed through the OP - it appears to be nicely written, displaying “Pak passion”!

 

Humour me , why is the the title wrong ?

[vvvslaxman]

Ahead of Majid Khan? No way. lol

[Majestic]

Kabhi elegant bolte ho kabhi artistic..

 

Aakhir kehna kya chahte ho Thakor Saab 

[zen]

3 hours ago, Tattieboy said:

Humour me , why is the the title wrong ?

It is right (at 4 am in the morning, it appeared wrong for some reason  ) 

[putrevus]

Zed had weakness against fast bowlers.But he was devasting against medium pacers and spinners.He sure was elegant.

[maniac]

Missed his career as just before my time. However based on what I have seen, read and heard a previous era version of Mahela Jayerwardena I feel. Lot of weaknesses but could maximize on his strengths and bash when things were in his favor. obviously Jayawardena being a much superior version.

 

 

 

[express bowling]

30 minutes ago, maniac said:

Missed his career as just before my time. However based on what I have seen, read and heard a previous era version of Mahela Jayerwardena I feel. Lot of weaknesses but could maximize on his strengths and bash when things were in his favor. obviously Jayawardena being a much superior version.

 

 

 

 

 

Very aptly put.

[Harsh Thakor]

2 hours ago, putrevus said:

Zed had weakness against fast bowlers.But he was devasting against medium pacers and spinners.He sure was elegant.

On flat tracks could take apart even fast bowlers.Remember 2 double centuries in England,century in Australia and fifties and 1979 world cup semi -final.

[Harsh Thakor]

45 minutes ago, maniac said:

Missed his career as just before my time. However based on what I have seen, read and heard a previous era version of Mahela Jayerwardena I feel. Lot of weaknesses but could maximize on his strengths and bash when things were in his favor. obviously Jayawardena being a much superior version.

 

 

 

More stylish and technically sound than Jayewaradene.Watch video clips of Zaheer Abbas batting..Supreme artistry and technique

[Harsh Thakor]

10 hours ago, zen said:

Like many Pakistani cricketers, Zaheer’s record is influenced by playing in Pak and versus teams such as India (for e.g. scored 2-3 ODI 100s in a series v Ind in Pak iirc) so will not take “overall” stats at face value.
 

As for being “artistic”, I have not watched him bat apart from in clips so will not comment.  

 

Skimmed through the OP - it appears to be nicely written, displaying “Pak passion”!

 

Please note Zaheer's double centuries in England in 1971 and 1974, and Century and fifties in Australia in 1976-77 and 1981-82.Also average of 47.62 in ODI's as well as staggering first class record against top bowling.

[Tattieboy]

Was Zaheer Abbas a stylish right hander ?...yes 

Was Zaheer Abbas most stylish right hander ?...for some I suppose , it's all personal taste 

Was Zaheer Abbas a Pakistan great ? .....yes 

 

For what's it worth , my choice of most stylish right hander is Greg Chappell 

[putrevus]

14 minutes ago, Harsh Thakor said:

On flat tracks could take apart even fast bowlers.Remember 2 double centuries in England,century in Australia and fifties and 1979 world cup semi -final.

No he still had problems against fast bowlers even on flat wickets. His high back lift was always going to give him problems against pace.

 

England never had a good fast bowler in 70s and 80s.Willis did he play against Zed?

[zen]

16 minutes ago, Harsh Thakor said:

Please note Zaheer's double centuries in England in 1971 and 1974, and Century and fifties in Australia in 1976-77 and 1981-82.Also average of 47.62 in ODI's as well as staggering first class record against top bowling.

 

Good effort in Eng (irrespective of how good or bad Eng was at that time) ... In Aus, he has 1 100, along with 10 50s, in 28 innings ... combining Eng, Aus, & NZ - 4 100s & 12 50s in 55 innings 

 

 

[Clarke]

5 hours ago, Majestic said:

Kabhi elegant bolte ho kabhi artistic..

 

Aakhir kehna kya chahte ho Thakor Saab 

 

 

[Harsh Thakor]

23 minutes ago, putrevus said:

No he still had problems against fast bowlers even on flat wickets. His high back lift was always going to give him problems against pace.

 

England never had a good fast bowler in 70s and 80s.Willis did he play against Zed?

In 1974 at Oval and 1982

[Harsh Thakor]

17 minutes ago, zen said:

 

Good effort in Eng (irrespective of how good or bad Eng was at that time) ... In Aus, he has 1 100, along with 10 50s, in 28 innings ... combining Eng, Aus, & NZ - 4 100s & 12 50s in 55 innings 

 

 

Not an all-time great in your view?I snot 16- 50 + scores  in 55 innings creditable ?Averaged over 40 in Australia facing best bowlers,including 4 straight fifties in 1976-77.