There is a spark when he comes out to bat or when he’s bowling, or for that matter when he’s fielding (chirping at the boys). An argument can be made that the reason why he’s so inconsistent (generally speaking; not counting the last year) is that he wants to sustain that aura about him that makes him so popular.
But as he gets older (approches 30 and beyond) will he lose that “unpredictability” that he has and become more of a responsible player OR will he maintian his “Afridi-like attidute”; that is, playing without feeling pressure, and all-or-nothing approch. I don’t know which direction is better: A consistent Afridi will put Pakistan on the top of the world (guaranteed), however, a part of me wants him to finish his career like the way he started. To leave as a player who played by his own terms and did not conform to what is considerd “normal cricket”.
I dont know if you have been following his performances isince last two years otherwise you would have noticed a tremendous consistency factor in his batting so he has changed. three bad innings should not wipe away breat-taking batting performances of last 7-8 series.
Don't get me wrong, I'm his biggest supporter. My thoughts are not based on his last three perfomances. I'm just saying that as he gets older, will there be any maturation in his batting style. I feel he could be one of the greatest Pakistani captains (close to Imran Khan) if he ever became consistent (by that I mean not try to kill every ball for 6), in his later years.
I thought this thread was for Salman Butt. Because he is the one who needs to learn. I mean if he is comparing himself to Akmal or Afridi then he should know they are not the professional openers on Int'l level. He has come to the show as the best from the recent finds. But my complain is not about his failure in last so many innings except one or two, but the complaint is about him getting out in an IDENTICAL fashion everytime. The writing on the wall reads 'you have been exposed to all the bowlers in the world' but Butt sahab will play the exact same shot. Sometimes it looks like he is perfecting the angle to get out as Xerox-copy of the last dismissal. Perhaps he is successful more than anyone in the world.
Come on, you can smash dozens of fours square to the wicket, only if you learn to play an outswinger. Gadhay!
As Saby has indicated, I personally do like to believe that Afridi has matured quite a bit from his early years, and the manner in which he has demonstrated professionalism (until very recently) suggests that he is ready to step up to the plate and act according to the dynamics of the game. Similar to the way Razzaq has shown confidence in his batting power and his abilities of thrusting the team out of the mud in several ocassions by maintaining his style and fluctuating it accordingly, I feel that Afridi has begun to follow in the same footsteps. I suppose only time will tell as to whether or not he has really "grown up", but things are at least looking a bit better as oppose to what they did before early on in his career.
I dont think so Afridi will grow up, dont know if that is the right word, but transition from one kind of batsman; hitter/slogger.
Inzimam cannot be Afridi and vice versa, but question can he actually play for the team (for a change) yes he showed us that in the test matches but like after playing so many games, he is not consistent so I dont have much of an expectation from him only to play the way he does with bat and ball and hopefully one day (maybe a day before his retierment) he will learn to play for the team.
If you think about it, he really plays for the team, at great personal cost and risk. What the team wants from him is to accelerate the run rate or demoralize the opponent bowling line up by huge hits. He knows that to do that he has to take risks. He also knows that if he fails a few times, critics will be out there with daggers drawn crying for his expulsion from the team. And despite that, whenever he walks in to bat, he plays with no regard for personal records. If he was playing for personal glory he will not take as many risks. The amount of talent (hand-eye coordination and powerful wrists) that he has is amazing. And still he puts it on the line every time for the team by taking risks.
And, I don't think "grow up" is the right term for this. He is not a child. As a batsman, his shot selection has definitely improved lately. Which is all you should expect. It will be a waste of his talent if he is asked to not hit all over the park. Younis Khan is also very exuberant in the field. Do we also want him to "grow up" and become dull and dour?
He has matured a lot, based on what I saw in series against India. He was tyring to build innings, which I never saw him doing earlier..
Somebody can paste his averages and I am sure he is improving them on regular basis...
Anyone who calls Afridi a slogger is not a true cricket fan nor has much knowledge about the sport. A slogger is a guy who swings the bat and constantly heaves over midwicket. And most of the time just swings the bat as hard as he can.
Yes u can argue Afridi has been like that at the start of his career but those shots are extemely rare in his game as of late. Look at his test match innings lately. You see late cuts, cover drives and nice glances off his pads. And most times than not the lofted shots he plays are straight down the ground and are well timed. The reason he is able to do this is because he can pick up the length quickly. This also enables him to hook and pull for six. The lofted drives and hook and pull shots that he hits for six and based on timing and a generally good eye. Then also what do we say about his cover drives late cuts and glances. It is all based on timing and the slogging shots are only and rarely in his game when he is passed his century in tests or throughout his one day innings.
Afridi is a pure entertainer in both forms of the game and that is his natural game. It is not slogging it is purely good hitting enabled from timing, strength and an early anticipation of the length of the ball. The people that call Afridi a slogger usually dislike him because of his popularity in the way he can score runs so quickly compared to other batsmen they like. Please stop dwelling on this talent u have and let him blossom through guidence and his own growth of maturity.
Also my main point say is think about it in his shoes. He can play defensive and get out to a defensive shot. I know when im playing that extremely dissapoints me. Or he can attack and get out playing the way he loves. Think about how it must be for him coming in with the tail in ODIS with 18 to get. There is nothing to gain. Either bat him at 2nd drop or let his talent and Pakistani cricket gradually diminish until the next generation.
I agree with Anil Khan (??) on definition of slogger, any decent bowler won't let a slogger hit more than few hits.. I won't even at my age...
Afridi's problem is of about getting carried away and trying shots which aren't adequate for the bowl bowled...
though as I said, I saw a much matured Afridi during India Pakistan Sereis
Can't say same about his behavior, which at best remained passable...
ab mein bolo kay na bolo 