During the last few months, Kamran Akmal had improved his keeping drastically as compared to a couple of years ago. In the New Zealand series and earlier, there haven’t been any glaring misses. However, during the Australia series, it seems his catching has retrogressed. While he did take Katich’s catch off Asif in the second innings, there were many occasions where he failed to gather the ball behind the stumps. A few of them also resulted in stifled appeals. All of them were simple, behind-the-wicket takes. There must be something technically that he’s doing wrong- maybe keeping the hands hard which results in the ball bouncing out of his hands, or not anticipating the ball correctly.
Inevitably, this will result in an important, match-on-the-line catch that’d be dropped. It’s bad enough that we can’t rely on the fielders to hold most catches, but wicketkeeper is someone who should be able to take nearly 100% of the catches that come his way. Maybe he should talk to Ian Healy for some tips.
Re: Akmal's keeping - a cause for concern
dont worry he will be fine for the remaining matches
Re: Akmal's keeping - a cause for concern
Again, I think it has to do with the pace and bounce. The ball comes off quicker than it seems. He was wearing helmet even when Ajmal was bowling. This tells me, he's still not able to adjust to the conditions.
Re: Akmal's keeping - a cause for concern
Akmal is not the issue - its the batting..Fielding in general is still a question mark...
Re: Akmal's keeping - a cause for concern
Batting and fielding in general have been an issue for a long time, but wicketkeeping is one issue that Akmal had resolved in the last few months. I am trying to remember the 2-year period up to a year ago, when there had been desperate (and justified) calls for Akmal's sacking, but he turned it around.
There's no quick solution for our fielding woes, but any keeping issues can be nipped in the bud if they're identified in time.
Dont worry about squeeky Akmals keeping.
He was learning how to keep few years ago and still learning.
Re: Akmal's keeping - a cause for concern
Bhai sahab - Akmal is not keeping any less efficiently than even Haddin - who is an aussie and according to you they are I guess above human....so pls get off your little thing and accept that its not his keeping, its other issues.
Akmal is fine and the best that Pakistan has right now. I am sure. Many players show talent in Pakistan but when they come to the international arena they can't take it. Atleast Akmal has guts...he eats meat and shows his metal on the field...
Re: Akmal's keeping - a cause for concern
Bumping this thread. Sad to see my fears weren't unfounded.
Re: Akmal’s keeping - a cause for concern
Hussey got life 3 times already 
Re: Akmal's keeping - a cause for concern
*so Sami showed his "true" colors
*
Re: Akmal's keeping - a cause for concern
*and so did Akmal (by dropping catches)
*
cricinfo:
Pakistan bowlers were very good, especially Gull and Kaneria, picking up 3 and 4 wickets respectively.** Hussey was dropped thrice by Akmal, who had a terrible day behind the stumps**, Hussey is unbeaten on 73. Pakistan's fielding was not great, although they took some good catches.
Re: Akmal's keeping - a cause for concern
Will the replacement be any better?
We haven't had good keeper other than Rashid Lateef since i have been watchign cricket. Moin used to drop sitters.
Will the replacement be any better?
We haven't had good keeper other than Rashid Lateef since i have been watchign cricket. Moin used to drop sitters.
If we can get a keeper who can make it up with his batting then that will do, nowaday Kamran just throws away his wicket recklessly.
Will the replacement be any better?
We haven't had good keeper other than Rashid Lateef since i have been watchign cricket. Moin used to drop sitters.
I agree, in recent history 70s onwards beside Saleem yousuf, I think Rashid Lateef by far was the best for Pakistan. But the funny thing is stats wise, Kamran is not that behind.
Moin wasn't that bad either. If you look up their stats you find out the real deal. Catches, stumpings over no. of innings.
One difference with Latif and Kamran is that things during Latif's era were much more of normalcy in Pakistan cricket and the main star bowlers were quite constant. Now with Akmal, it is complete abnormalcy. No one is regular. And not even a decent off-spinner has been with the team for a long time. Saeed ajmal is just coming up. And a wrist spinner has been wanted for some time to be a regular feature of the Test side. Kaneria is in and out.
Then again, if there is some one better, PCB should try them once our batting stabilizes. Right now, batting is as big a challenge for Pakistan.
3 dropped chances are bad for sure. But its a lose-lose if you change him right now. You will have a new wicket keeper untested in international games, and a ? mark batsmen as well.
Re: Akmal's keeping - a cause for concern
I guess Akmal always had the problems on hard pitches (england, SA and AUS). He keeps ok on pitches in Pak, ind , SL and BD and this makes me think he has some technical flaw that should be addressed but many times his misses costs us badly like these ones ...
I guess Akmal always had the problems on hard pitches (england, SA and AUS). He keeps ok on pitches in Pak, ind , SL and BD and this **makes me think he has some technical flaw that should be addressed **but many times his misses costs us badly like these ones ...
He can't read wrist spin that well.....specially the way DK releases the ball - he doesn't have a problem with off-spinners...and not even with Farhat...although he didn't keep for farhat that much...I thunk
So its a matter of lack of ability to read the bowler...he needs to know where it will turn based on how its delivered..
He can't read wrist spin that well.....specially the way DK releases the ball - he doesn't have a problem with off-spinners...and not even with Farhat...although he didn't keep for farhat that much...I thunk
So its a matter of lack of ability to read the bowler...he needs to know where it will turn based on how its delivered..
he had same problem with quickies in england. I dont think its reading or not reading Danish. 2 of the catches landed right in the center of gloves and yet he spilled those catches....
Re: Akmal's keeping - a cause for concern
I think the stats speak of the fact that he is particularly prone to spilling off of DK.
It might be a case of nerves when he is keeping to him - DK said he came and said sorry 3 times...maybe DK gives him a really hard time...
and I always thought that the main thing with Akmal is his self confidence.
I think the stats speak of the fact that he is particularly prone to spilling off of DK.
It might be a case of nerves when he is keeping to him - DK said he came and said sorry 3 times...maybe DK gives him a really hard time...
and I always thought that the main thing with Akmal is his self confidence.
well this technical shortcoming talk was on yeasterday and I also remember from Pakistan's tour to england ...they talked about getting his technique "fixed" by working with Rashid Latif and Moin Khan .... Main point of discussion was that on slow pitches (Pak, Ind, SL, BD) keeper has to move hands towards the ball to grab it while on hard/fast pitches keeper should wait for ball to come. They showed throw slow-mo many times how Akmal was still trying to grab the ball instead of waiting for it.