During this ongoing test series, we have seen quality bowling from “some” Pakistani bowlers and decent batting all around but the most I am impressed is with the fielding (except Moin Khan) from the Pakis, and especially Taufeeq Umar, he took 6 catches, and dropped 1 catch in the 4 innings.
The catch he took of Gary Kirsten of Razzaq in 1st inning was one of the best catches I have seen from a slip fielder.
And it also comes in handy that he has scored 113, 60, 68 in his last 3 innings.
I just saw this young lad in WC2003 in the match against India, and I felt that he is the next Anwar/Sohail of Pakistan. He has all the masala to be a great openner and a sportsman. He is energetic, stylish, good in technique, brave and courageous. :k: All thumbs up.
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*Originally posted by Asif_k: *
Tauffiq is a very good batsman but comparing him to Mark Waugh is a joke. Let the kid play for couple of years first....
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Exactly. Give him some time to prove himself. Mark Waugh was another class. We can say Mark Waugh in making though. Can we?
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*Originally posted by Asif_k: *
Tauffiq is a very good batsman but comparing him to Mark Waugh is a joke. Let the kid play for couple of years first....
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I agree. i think its too early to compare him with Mark Waugh. especially given the history of Pakistan cricket where players have scored back to back centuries against good opponents, only to disappear into thin air (Azhar Mehmood). Then there is Younis Khan who started out reasonably well, and ended up a mediocre player. Just a few months ago his place in the side couldn't be debated but look where he is now. So we need to contain our expectations. Last night there was a thread comparing Imran Farhat With Sehwag, and tonight we have this. I think if we start having big expectations from them, we'll face big disappointments too. This is especially true for tomorrow's innings when both of these young openers need to stay at the crease. If we start expecting them to play like Mark Waugh, and they don't, we'll end up shouting slogans for their ouster and ruin another career or two. So I think we need to be patient. If anything I would like him to be Taufeeq Umar. Not Mark Waugh, not Brian Lara, not Tendulkar. Just Taufeeq. My two cents.
Again, what happens if he drops kirsten on 98 or kallis on 49? You just can't compare him with mark waugh based on just one test.
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Actually he has been performing consistently @ slip position, everytime he was given a chance, during the WC and the test series in South Afirca and against Australia in Sharjah and Sri Lanka.
So its not just 1 or 2 matches I am talking.
I wouldn't mind if he drops one catch even if Kirsten is on 99, as long he is consistent in the slips, he gets my vote.
The point was you cannot compare him with Mark Waugh so early. Mark Waugh sits comfortably at number 3 spot on the " Most Successful Bowler/Fielder Combinations" list with Shane Warne.
He also figures in a numerous other fielding records. But the fact is you cannot start billing taufeeq as an answer to Mark. just imagine the sort of pressue he will feel if he gets to know this.
Now i am not saying he’s not a good slip fielder. He is, and he’s proven that in this test match, if never before. But give him a couple of years before comparing him with Mark Waugh because as it we might as well compare youhana with Don Bradman because Youhana’s winning ratio as a captain is better than the great Don himself.
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*Originally posted by Asif_k: *
Tauffiq is a very good batsman but comparing him to Mark Waugh is a joke. Let the kid play for couple of years first....
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Players drop catches, even Mark Waugh has dropped few catches here and there.. The important thing is consistency, which Mark waugh had, and Taufeeq does too, True, its too early to compare but consistency is there and he has all the potential to become Pakistan's answer to Waugh, (In Slip Fielding)
arre bhai Umair316 ki baton ko seriously mat liya karoun...in another of his gems he wrote this equation
Shahid Afridi = Sir Isac Vivian Alexander Richards
Cricket is a game of confidence. There is no doubt that Taufeeq was very sharp during that series against SA and he took some incredible slip catches but then his place in the side was permanent and he was confident of his own ability and that reflected in his catching as well as batting. Not so right now as he is shaky, nervous and looks like more of a constant dancer rather than an opener and this lack of confidence is evident in his fielding as well.
A statement compeletly taken out of context!
:k: ^^