Why Pakistan must shuffle their batting

[CAD]

It is surprising that Sarfraz, despite his success in the top five, is now batting at six. His performance in the top five is not just good, it is incredible by Pakistan's standards: 962 runs at 48.10 with a strike-rate of 89.23, two centuries and five fifties.

Outside the top five, he has just one fifty in 31 innings and averages 24.84 – notwithstanding the fact batting at No.6 brings more chances to be not out after an innings.

The case for Sarfraz batting higher is backed by more amazing numbers. Among batters who have faced at least 1000 balls in ODIs in the past five years, Sarfraz's percentage of singles (40.57) is second only to AB de Villiers (42.41). In other words, when it comes to rotating the strike in ODIs the Pakistan captain is second only to his South African counterpart.

It is a well-documented fact that Pakistan's openers and Hafeez consume too many dot balls, which adds pressure on the lower order. It is also a well-documented fact that Pakistan do not currently have any power hitters. While Hafeez can struggle to rotate the strike, he does not mind hitting the long ball. In the current Pakistan team, he is perhaps the cleanest striker of the ball and that skillset may be best utilised batting at six.





Numbers again vindicate that notion. In overs 41 to 50, Hafeez has scored 323 runs with a strike rate of 138.03 and tonked 13 sixes. Sarfraz, in contrast has scored 420 runs at 105.26 and hit only a solitary six from 399 balls.

Aamir Sohail, the former Pakistan captain and chief selector who incidentally picked Hafeez for his debut in 2003, criticised the team balance after their 124-run defeat against India.

"A selector's job is not to just select players but also tell them that what the team wants from them," said Sohail.

"We don't know about players' potentials. We waste them by playing in the formats they are not suited for. We don't have people who can develop players."

http://www.cricket.com.au/news/paki...feez-south-africa-champions-trophy/2017-06-07

 

[shahbaz baig]

wo kiya kehty hain Aawa ka Aawa hi bigra howa hai.. jo sab sy kam experience & performer tha os ko outha kr captain bana diya.. or jis sethi ka dor dor tak cricket sy koe lena dena nhi wo PCB chala raha..

gussa apni intiha ko cho chuka hai, ek individual bas dil ki bharaas nikal sakta kr kuch nhi sakta.