What should Be The Team For The First Test VS NZ?
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My preferred team would be :
Butt
Farhat
Alam
Yousuf
Malik
Iqbal
Akmal
Aamer
Gul
Ajmal
Asif
I'm missing Mr Nazir !!
Analysis
Ajmal should be Pakistan's premier spinner. He is attacking and always maintains pressure in the sense that he doesn't leak runs easily and become predictable like Kaneria. Kaneria can produce some magical deliveries but doesn't dominate and win enough matches. Actually most of his wickets come in vain circumstances. Ajmal will be threatening and economical.
Asif was a huge prospect when he emerged on the scene in 2005/06 and good to see him back with the red cherry despite what he’s done in the past. He can extract amazing seam deviation of the pitch and produce some astonishing deliveries bowling in that “corridor of uncertainty channel”.
But above all Pakistan must maintain the same opening pair for a sufficient period of time. Chopping and changing will never settle the players or team balance which is bound to result in inconsistency.
Oz special
14 years ago
7 comments:
Imran Nazir? Where is he?
Purna
They didn't pick Nazir in the Test squad.
Maz
I wouldn't let Butt or Iqbal near the team! Mine would be:
Kamran Akmal (wk),
Imran Farhat,
Shoaib Malik,
Mohammad Yousuf,
Fawad Alam,
Umar Akmal
Yasir Arafat, (Misbah when he arrives)
Mohammad Aamer,
Saeed Ajmal,
Umar Gul,
Mohammad Asif,
1. Salman Butt: Butt is experienced and the selectors have given him a hard time lately, being “the best of a sorry bunch” one can expect him to get out on a zero, but if he survives that first over he might get some useful runs.
2. Khurrum Manzoor: He has been an average player so far but once he starts scoring he is hard to stop, he has a good conversion rate & once he gets to a 50 there is a good chance he might score a 100.
3. Mohammad Yousuf: Captain & the best in the squad.
4. Shoaib Malik: The pressure will be on Malik & he will have to perform so who knows this pressure might take the best out of him.
5. Fawad Alam: He is the future test cricketer of Pakistan and one can always depend on him to stay at the wicket.
6. Umar Akmal: Umar Vs Fawad will be a good battle since both of them are being considered the future stars of Pakistan, and it was the Australian tour that got him selected in the ODI series against Lanka he will be in a similar atmosphere once again.
7. Kamran Akmal (wk): Kamran Akmal has the ability to score under pressure and most of his good knocks has come under immense pressure, Sarfaraz is knocking his door but it seems an injury to Kamran is the only way for Sarfaraz to jump in.
8. Saeed Ajmal: He has bowled consistently well in limited overs and kiwi batsmen will find it hard to tackle him.
9. Umar Gul: Gul is the most experienced bowler in the squad & since Asif will just be making a comeback it will be Gul who will be leading the attack. His reverse swing will be important.
10. Mohammad Asif: I am not sure if Asif will be selected or not but his ability with the new ball will be a challenge for the Kiwis.
11. Mohammad Aamer: Aamer has bowled exceptionally well in limited overs but if he needs wickets in test matches he needs to get those LBWs & Bowled sorted out because if he keeps on bowling Outswinging deliveries in test matches the batsmen will never attack him & it is important for bowlers to be attacked if they want to get wickets in a test match.
Not Included:
1. Faisal Iqbal: Enough chances & everyone knows he is there due to his connections in the PCB
2. Imran Farhat: Farhat is in good form but it would be injustice with Manzoor to be axed without a proper chance.
3. Yasser Arafat: Amer, Asif, Gul & Ajmal has made life difficult for Yasser, you have to be exceptional in one department to get selected in a test match if you are an all rounder because the captains likes genuine players in this form of the game.
Rauf, Kaneria, Sarfaraz: Rauf might be selected over Asif whereas the two are facing too much competition.
Stani, I agree with ur bowling attack. Ajmal has to be Pak’s premier spinner quite simply. Perhaps play Kaneria if it’s a turning track which is only probably the likelihood in the Australian conditions which follows the NZ tour. I’m looking forward to the Boxing Day test at the MCG!! U have to feel sorry for Kamran though if u want him to open the batting after standing behind the stumps for around 100 odd over’s !
Also let me introduce u to Harry K from UAE. He’s a friend of mine and is joining the BoomBoomCricket management which only consists of us two!
Harry K, I can assure u that Yousuf will not want to bat at no 3. Good analysis of individual strengths and weaknesses. Good to see u agree with mine and Stani’s bowling attack as well.
Harry K, Manzoor's technique hasn't impressed me.
But the thing is that he needs to be given more chances, the problem with Pakistani openers is that they don't get consistent chances to prove there metal. KM has played only against Sri Lanka, so I think he needs to be given more chances against other opposition & as far as Farhat goes 27 test matches with only 2 centuries is not good enough, but my sixth sense is telling me that on the 24th of November we will see Farhat & Butt. I hope they perform well.
I agree that he has been treated unfairly by the PCB and selection committee but with his technique one can tell that he won’t go too far in the international arena. Bowlers will begin to exploit his weaknesses especially in those challenging conditions. My preference would be Butt and Farhat.
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