Time to give Azhar Ali his due

[sandeep]

7 minutes ago, Autonomous said:

Selfie is not going to stick long, We have too many openers who would be looking for a test spot in 2-3 years including Imam Ul Haq, Imran Butt and Jaahid Ali. 

 

Sami and Azhar should open. 

Test openers are always hard to find, I wouldn't be in such a rush to discard Selfie.   All those 'names' might be new, but what makes you think they are better than him?  Hasn't he done better at Pak domestic level, apart from ex-kuptaan spotFixer?   For all his flaws, Princess Shehzadi has shown he has enough of a game to make it work in tests.  His strike rotation problem is not as much of an issue in test cricket.  He's a sensitive fella though and playing with the axe over his head, once he gets confident, he'll do better IMO - but I guess that's an IF.   

 

Azhar has done so well for Pak recently, that fans are forgetting that he's a converted opener.  

Edited May 13, 2017 by sandeep

[Autonomous]

12 minutes ago, sandeep said:

Test openers are always hard to find, I wouldn't be in such a rush to discard Selfie.   All those 'names' might be new, but what makes you think they are better than him?  Hasn't he done better at Pak domestic level, apart from ex-kuptaan spotFixer?   For all his flaws, Princess Shehzadi has shown he has enough of a game to make it work in tests.  His strike rotation problem is not as much of an issue in test cricket.  He's a sensitive fella though and playing with the axe over his head, once he gets confident, he'll do better IMO - but I guess that's an IF.   

 

Azhar has done so well for Pak recently, that fans are forgetting that he's a converted opener.  

Azhar is a natural opener, He has opened in domestics. Even his Cricinfo Profile has mentioned this. 

Edited May 13, 2017 by Autonomous

[Autonomous]

@sandeep Pakistan has abundance of test format type batsmen, Usman Salahuddin is another one, Fawad Alam and so on. 

This is because most of them have solid temperament however limited stroke play due to type of pitches they play on. 

[Asim]

1 hour ago, sandeep said:

Sami and Azhar as opener, ideally Azhar at #3 if Selfie gets his head sorted - he's a serviceable opener for test cricket IMO.   That would go a long way in stabilizing the Pak test team -  Babar would be better at #4.  

 

Sami

Shehzad

Azhar

Babar Azam

Asad Shafiq

Fawad Alam? 

Sarfaraz

 

That's probably the best batting lineup for Pakistan - but knowing the tendencies of the selectors, I don't see them putting this team out in test cricket, maybe ever.  

 

Agree, Shehzad with Sami can also make a good opening, at slightly better strike rate too...

and Yes, Azhar's actual batting position has been #3, should come back at there...

Don't think they will get Fawad back but Haris Sohail can soon make a comeback...

 

Sami, Shehzad - Azhar, Babar, Haris and Asad along Sarfraz will actually make a decent lineup... (Shehzad can be replaced with Hafeez too for an additional spin option)

[Zoranovic]

Predicting Azhar to hit a hundred in our victory tomorrow. I don't think India have the bowling attack to trouble the little champion 

[Autonomous]

He is not a one day player. But anyways good luck to him....

[Autonomous]

1 hour ago, Zoranovic said:

Predicting Azhar to hit a hundred in our victory tomorrow. I don't think India have the bowling attack to trouble the little champio

Bhuvi and Shami can trouble him but not Umesh. If he tries to play freely against new ball he will get out cheaply I think, In one days you need shots and natural talent as a batsman.