In Test cricket, fortunes can change quickly. Last winter, Australia beat the West Indies and New Zealand before coming a cropper at home to South Africa in November. Meanwhile, Pakistan briefly topped the ICC rankings after the England tour, maintained the momentum with a 2-1 series success over the Windies in the desert but lost it all again in New Zealand.
So there was a lot at stake in the Australia-Pakistan encounters over the past month or so. Would the Aussie pacemen make the most of quick pitches or could the Pakistani veteran batsmen galvanise the tourists? The answer was neither. It was very much a series for the batsmen. In the three matches, there were ten centuries and no fewer than eight individuals averaged more than 50. With the ball, only Josh Hazelwood averaged under 25, while his 15-wicket aggregate took him past the century for his career so far.
The series caught light on the last day of the Brisbane opener. After Steve Smith declared 489 ahead, a crushing defeat for Pakistan was the likely outcome. However, Azhar Ali and Younis Khan weren’t to be cowed, then Asad Shafiq brilliantly shepherded the tail past 300, past 400,… Could a new world record be achieved? Not on this occasion, but the amazing effort took Pakistan to 450, just 39 short.
Only two sides had ever scored more in the fourth innings, and all sorts of records were broken at The Gabba. One which did hold was Australia’s long unbeaten sequence, now extended to 28.
At the MCG, Pakistan again passed 400, helped by an unbeaten 205 from opener Azhar Ali. However, David Warner’s run-a-ball 144, Steve Smith’s third consecutive Boxing Day Test century, Khawaja’s 97 and a late blast from Mitchell Starc established another handsome first innings lead. There was to be no repeat of the Gabba fightback as Starc and spinner Nathan Lyon nabbed seven cheap wickets to pull off an innings victory.
On to Sydney at the start of 2017. And what a star it was for David Warner. His century before lunch on day one was the first in Test cricket for more than 30 years, even outshining Matt Renshaw’s substantial debut hundred and Peter Handscomb’s second in three games. In response, Younis Khan’s 175 not out was his 34th three-figure score, keeping Pakistan in with a shout. A fourth day batting blitz set up another huge target and, despite a series-best 38 from skipper Misbah and a quick 72 not out from Sarfraz, it proved far too much.
And so Australia could enjoy a fourth successive 3-0 whitewash at home to Pakistan. Question marks have been raised against Misbah’s captaincy. Understandable given the series result and his own mediocre form. Nevertheless, he has been magnificent for his country in recent years. If he chooses to retire at 42, nobody would blame him. On the other hand, it would be unfair to hound him out based on one lost series in a land where they haven’t won for decades.
The Aussies can reflect proudly on a great all-round display, with runs down the order and wickets well distributed across the attack. Smith and Warner are at the top of their game, and it was an encouraging series for new boys Renshaw and Handscomb. If they can hang on to their bowlers longer than South Africa, they may yet in the next 18 months challenge India for the ceremonial mace.
Showing posts with label Asad Shafiq. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Asad Shafiq. Show all posts
Saturday, 7 January 2017
Sunday, 30 November 2014
New Zealand's triumph a worthy tribute to Phil Hughes
It's been a tough week for cricket. Regardless of whether you love cricket, the death of Phil Hughes was a shocking reminder that sport can be a dangerous pastime, even the pastoral pastime of leather on willow. Even people who take little interest in cricket have beebn affected. After appropriate delays and postponements, international fixtures resumed, with the deciding Test between Pakistan and New Zealand the most intriguing.
Misbah-ul-Haq's side have been in the zone lately with plenty of runs and fine spin bowling. Younis Khan in particular has been in spectacular form. Unfortunately for Pakistan, the runaway train derailed at Sharjah. The fairytale script would have had the recalled Daniel Vettori scoring a century and nabbing ten wickets, but there was no fairydust sprinkled on the bespectacled Black Cap legend. After a gap of more than two years, the 35 year-old did score 15 and add two wickets to his impressive Test tally of 360, but in many respects he was outperformed by just about all his team-mates.
Misbah won the toss and elected to bat. While Mohammad Hafeez was at the crease, that looked an excellent decision. However, once he top-edged a pull to be fifth man out for 197, the side collapsed to the spin of Mark Craig, a 27 year-old with only thirty games' first-class experience. What came next was unprecedented in New Zealand cricket. In under two days, they amassed a record 690 at getting on for five an over.
Skipper Brendon MaCullum led from the front, making another double-century at more than a runa ball, and shattering his country's second-wicket partnership record alongside Kane Williamson, who notched 192 himself. Four others also reached 50; the total of six half-centurions another first for NZ. Faced with the need to bat to save the game to win the series, Pakistan made a terrible start. Trent Boult had them reeling at 24-3 with swift in-swingers and seamers, his victims including Younis Khan first ball!
As in the first innings, one man attempted to hold it all together. This time it was Asad Shafiq, choosing attack as the best form of defence. He fell on 137 and the final wicket fell the next over, McCullum pouching the catch to hand Craig a first 'ten-for'.
While delivering disappointment for Pakistan in the Middle East, this counter-attacking performance will do the Black Caps the world of good. As well as the record run and 50 tallies for New Zealand, the whole match boasted 35 sixes, easily smashing the previous Test record of 27 notched by Pakistan v India in 2006 (Shahid Afridi at his best) and Bangladesh against - of all opponents - New Zealand last October. They've now won or drawn each of their last five series, with six victories and three draws out of eleven Tests and if they take this confidence into the 50-over World Cup, they might actually have a chance of winning the tournament instead of being perennial mere thorns in the side of the big guns.
As for this week in Sharjah, nobody was hurt, the match was played in good spirit and the late Phil Hughes was not forgotten. The same can be said for this Third Test.
Misbah-ul-Haq's side have been in the zone lately with plenty of runs and fine spin bowling. Younis Khan in particular has been in spectacular form. Unfortunately for Pakistan, the runaway train derailed at Sharjah. The fairytale script would have had the recalled Daniel Vettori scoring a century and nabbing ten wickets, but there was no fairydust sprinkled on the bespectacled Black Cap legend. After a gap of more than two years, the 35 year-old did score 15 and add two wickets to his impressive Test tally of 360, but in many respects he was outperformed by just about all his team-mates.
Misbah won the toss and elected to bat. While Mohammad Hafeez was at the crease, that looked an excellent decision. However, once he top-edged a pull to be fifth man out for 197, the side collapsed to the spin of Mark Craig, a 27 year-old with only thirty games' first-class experience. What came next was unprecedented in New Zealand cricket. In under two days, they amassed a record 690 at getting on for five an over.
Skipper Brendon MaCullum led from the front, making another double-century at more than a runa ball, and shattering his country's second-wicket partnership record alongside Kane Williamson, who notched 192 himself. Four others also reached 50; the total of six half-centurions another first for NZ. Faced with the need to bat to save the game to win the series, Pakistan made a terrible start. Trent Boult had them reeling at 24-3 with swift in-swingers and seamers, his victims including Younis Khan first ball!
As in the first innings, one man attempted to hold it all together. This time it was Asad Shafiq, choosing attack as the best form of defence. He fell on 137 and the final wicket fell the next over, McCullum pouching the catch to hand Craig a first 'ten-for'.
While delivering disappointment for Pakistan in the Middle East, this counter-attacking performance will do the Black Caps the world of good. As well as the record run and 50 tallies for New Zealand, the whole match boasted 35 sixes, easily smashing the previous Test record of 27 notched by Pakistan v India in 2006 (Shahid Afridi at his best) and Bangladesh against - of all opponents - New Zealand last October. They've now won or drawn each of their last five series, with six victories and three draws out of eleven Tests and if they take this confidence into the 50-over World Cup, they might actually have a chance of winning the tournament instead of being perennial mere thorns in the side of the big guns.
As for this week in Sharjah, nobody was hurt, the match was played in good spirit and the late Phil Hughes was not forgotten. The same can be said for this Third Test.
Saturday, 26 October 2013
Six-Six, the Number of the (Run) Feast
Following his latest double century, I was going to sing the praises of South African opener Graeme Smith. However, after the blatant ball-tampering by Faf du Plessis in the thumping victory of Pakistan in Dubai, I find it hard to believe his skipper was ignorant of his team-mate's cheating. So instead I shall concentrate on the performances of AB De Villiers and Asad Shafiq.
AB's contribution to South Africa's rise to the top in Tests and many triumphs in limited-overs games is well known. Averaging 50-odd in both major formats is remarkable, and remember he is pretty much an all-rounder given his rejuvenated role as wicket-keeper. His immense strike rate in 50- and 20-over matches comes in contrast to a much steadier one in Tests. That's not a criticism; quite the opposite. These days, few batsmen have the ability and temperament to adapt so superbly to different formats and circumstances.
I must admit the rise of Asad Shafiq has taken me by surprise. Making four centuries at number six, the same as De Villiers, has been beaten by only eighteen others in Test history, and they have come in only 23 Tests. Three years ago, he made his Pakistan debut in the same part of the world against the same opposition, who again scored more than 500 featuring a big double-century. In 2009 it wasn't Smith, but good old AB, who crashed his still record 278 but Pakistan's batsmen didn't roll over to the spinners on that occasion and the game was drawn.
In the old days when I was growing up, the number six slot was usually reserved for all-rounders. Sir Garry Sobers has a collection of eight centuries in that position and is one of the all-time greats Despite for many years holding the world record for Test runs he often batted at only six when these days such a battig genius would probably bat a bit higher, bowler or not. Others near the top of the 'six' order of merit include other famous all-rounders Tony Greig (seven), Asif Iqbal and Steve Waugh (six apiece), Ian Botham and Ravi Shastri (five).
However there has been a recent move towards having specialist batsmen at six. Perhaps this is because bowlers have become better batsmen as a result of the T20 explosion, and countries have been able to field just four specialist bowlers augmented by occasional spin by players at the top. It happened with Clive Lloyd later in his career, Allan Border and, further back, another Aussie Doug Walters. This decade, the likes of Ian Bell, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Mike Hussey have done the job extremely effectively, marshalling the tail, stopping the rot or just building big partnerships to crush hopes of the opposition.
It will be interesting to see whether Asad Shafiq remains at number six, especially with Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan nearing the end of their careers. AB, meanwhile, could contribute runs absolutely anywhere. Indeed, he has batted everywhere from one to eight, but more often at six than any other place. His average is even better when the designated wicketkeeper than when playing only as batsman so maybe he is just as much an all-rounder as Sobers, Greig, Iqbal et al.
AB's contribution to South Africa's rise to the top in Tests and many triumphs in limited-overs games is well known. Averaging 50-odd in both major formats is remarkable, and remember he is pretty much an all-rounder given his rejuvenated role as wicket-keeper. His immense strike rate in 50- and 20-over matches comes in contrast to a much steadier one in Tests. That's not a criticism; quite the opposite. These days, few batsmen have the ability and temperament to adapt so superbly to different formats and circumstances.
I must admit the rise of Asad Shafiq has taken me by surprise. Making four centuries at number six, the same as De Villiers, has been beaten by only eighteen others in Test history, and they have come in only 23 Tests. Three years ago, he made his Pakistan debut in the same part of the world against the same opposition, who again scored more than 500 featuring a big double-century. In 2009 it wasn't Smith, but good old AB, who crashed his still record 278 but Pakistan's batsmen didn't roll over to the spinners on that occasion and the game was drawn.
In the old days when I was growing up, the number six slot was usually reserved for all-rounders. Sir Garry Sobers has a collection of eight centuries in that position and is one of the all-time greats Despite for many years holding the world record for Test runs he often batted at only six when these days such a battig genius would probably bat a bit higher, bowler or not. Others near the top of the 'six' order of merit include other famous all-rounders Tony Greig (seven), Asif Iqbal and Steve Waugh (six apiece), Ian Botham and Ravi Shastri (five).
However there has been a recent move towards having specialist batsmen at six. Perhaps this is because bowlers have become better batsmen as a result of the T20 explosion, and countries have been able to field just four specialist bowlers augmented by occasional spin by players at the top. It happened with Clive Lloyd later in his career, Allan Border and, further back, another Aussie Doug Walters. This decade, the likes of Ian Bell, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Mike Hussey have done the job extremely effectively, marshalling the tail, stopping the rot or just building big partnerships to crush hopes of the opposition.
It will be interesting to see whether Asad Shafiq remains at number six, especially with Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan nearing the end of their careers. AB, meanwhile, could contribute runs absolutely anywhere. Indeed, he has batted everywhere from one to eight, but more often at six than any other place. His average is even better when the designated wicketkeeper than when playing only as batsman so maybe he is just as much an all-rounder as Sobers, Greig, Iqbal et al.
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