The age old question still looms.. what is still keeping senior players from stepping up and volunteering to apply for the openers position. We ve been without solid openers for so, so long that it really is not funny anymore. It is pathetic at x^n different levels.
We have tried every other trick in the book. Why not try this one too for trial and erros sake? Let the kids farhat butt taufeeq yasir play in the middle order while Yousuf and Younis stand in the firing line.
Whats the worse you imagine can happen? We ll lose a few more matches. So what?
Yes? I have been pleading for quite some time now and have been a vocal supporter (or otherwise) for advocating of Inzamam to open the innings with one inexperienced opener which will be of immense help in the establishment of the latter’s career through the experience that the former has gained throughout the course of years. This post below:
On the dot! Since the likelihood of Inzamam hanging up his boots post-World Cup is quite high, this would be a good time to go ahead and try for Inzamam as an opener. Yes, from the next test match (or even the next series), I would seriously prefer Inzamam as an opener, alongwith any of the rejects that have been tried-and-tested in recent times who have bigger problems with their batting than the total number of saas-bahu threads currently in process in Life1. According to the above quoted post, we will gain an additional batsman in the middle order, a person who will have the opportunity of his lifetime to flourish and gain experience, after being surrounded with so many level-headed batters. It is a two-way street, and it will work both ways, in time.
i'd love to see that, but realistically it won't happen.
i see salman butt and imran farhat eventually getting comfortable with their roles and becoming reliable openers.
we have a fair amount of young options for opening... although their inconsistency is a huge negative, I think eventually a few of them will emerge and realize that opening is their niche and their opportunity to flourish.
i see salman butt and imran farhat eventually getting comfortable with their roles and becoming reliable openers.
we have a fair amount of young options for opening... although their inconsistency is a huge negative, I think eventually a few of them will emerge and realize that opening is their niche and their opportunity to flourish.
can't hurt to be an optimist, can it?
Absolutely not, and it helps to see such things in a positive manner (sometimes). I am in full agreement with you and Cheegum Bhai, which is to see Inzamam in the opening slot, but yes, one has to be realistic and from all practical purposes, there is a higher chance of that chamcha Wasim Bari hit by lightning than Inzamam moving up the order.
To tell you the truth, if I was presented with the above two options, I know which one I am going towards...
LOL. Inzi isn't prepared to come in at number 4 and you guys are talking about opening! I'd say it would be a short term stop gap solution which wouldn't do Pakistan cricket any good in the long term. After all, what after 2007 when Inzi retires? What needs to happen is that a suitable pair first needs to be decided, then they should be given an extended run. That is the only way a long term solution can be developed.
The reason why Inzamam might still be fragile coming in at number 4 is because it has to do with the fact that he finds himself mercilessly at the crease facing full-blown opposition attack after a space of a mere handful of overs while the ball is as new as a freshly-born baby on its first day. Apart from this, I do not see any reason why he must consider himself sensitive on this issue. The likes of Salman and Imran keep coming back in the pavilion faster than Inzamam can finish off his paratha.
On the long-term solution......of course yes! After all, we are basically looking after the longevity of our cricket base and the establishment of younger players in the team on a more regular basis, but tell, the minute Shoaib Malik is back from his injury, he will be the first thing given preference in the opening slot, a decision which I personally don't feel comfortable with, but nonetheless, it is bound to happen, sooner than later, as either Salman or Imran will get dropped. Taufeeq, on the other hand, is included in this test match after a hiatus of one year and five months, so he can be given a leeway based on that point. Yasir Hameed and Asim Kamal are sitting on the bench even though a number of supporters have been calling for their selection. You have seen how miserable it has gotten as of late. One bad test and what have you, next thing you know Salman gets dropped for his poor performance. This nonsense has been going on for months on end now. Despite the assurance from the supposed think tank (remove the word 'think') before the start of each series with statements such as "We will go in with X amount of batsman with no change whatsoever", we have seen it happen in front of our very own eyes more often than not. Instead of chopping every person's head on the block after one series and going around in circles, it is about time we do something useful, take this opportunity into our hands and let Inzamam open the innings for as long as we have him in our team (as captain and otherwise). At least that will pave the way for an additional member which is always helpful and it also develops the bare seeds into full-blossom fruits of tomorrow. In a way, Inzamam is the key of passing the torch to our younger generation in transforming them into successful cricketers and human beings come tomorrow.
We have tried every other trick in the book. Why not try this one too for trial and erros sake? Let the kids farhat butt taufeeq yasir play in the middle order while Yousuf and Younis stand in the firing line.
Whats the worse you imagine can happen? We ll lose a few more matches. So what?
Cheegum bhai we haven't tried every trick in the book, all we have done is played musical chairs with the openers (Butt, Farhat and Umer) and being persistent with Malik (thanks to coach woolmer, at times it has paid dividends).
Openers are very key as your frontline opening bowlers and class act spinner, their job is not only to see off the new ball but to provide a support as an anchor for the whole team. Pakistan has been lucky in the past where the captain or the selectors had the eye to catch that very talent which would give nightmares to the opponent(s). Your argument is valid that our middle order is exposed within 4-6 overs and we have seen that already in the recent test matches.
The case solution is quite simple, pick a pair and set a standard for them (Test and ODI's matches) if the dont perform to the standard (for e.g. ODI's avg 35/matches and Test 40/matches [matches= 15 for the pair]). does this sounds tough? I dont think so. if they dont then show them the door and tell them you have to be consistent in domestic circuit atleast for the 2 upcoming seasons to get our attention.
It is indeed simple as slicing a hot knife through butter, and it should have been set a long time ago. In 18 Tests since Woolmer took over, the longest run any opener has had is six successive Tests (Malik and Butt) and the longest run any pair has had together is five Tests (Malik and Butt). Seven different players have opened, 13 different combinations used, yielding two century partnerships, and 11 half-century starts. If this does not entertain the masses, I am afraid nothing will.
The argument presented by SKhan Bhai is fully valid on the issue of long-term solution, but the only rebuttal from my side is, one should already have a know these on these sorts of things before filling out the application for the coach and leading the National team. Experience should always come into the equation and now that we have reached almost a dead end having tried from every doodh wala to golay-gunday wala on the block, what's the worse that could happen if Inzamam is thrusted as an opener? I vividly remember posting my opinion in the recent past on selecting only specialists for this type of role and this is exactly the reason I believe why Inzamam should be moved up the order instead of hiding behind the weak and tormented. He is the type of multi-dimensional player who can easily fit himself in any role on any given day.
Is Inzi really going to retire post WC'07? Something tells me he will stay (read desi-pan) :CareBear:
Anyway, one of the seniors should open, I'd say it should be Younis now as he has been coming on crease while the ball is new on so many occasions lately.
Yousuf and Inzi can stay in their comfortable shell of down below.
This way the "opener" will be able to learn from the experienced Younis while Faisal can be in company of greats of Inzi and Yousuf... both opener and Faisal will learn from the seasoned players.
Shoaib Malik's return will make things interesting though!
Imran Farhat and Salman Butt are not getting the job done and we defiantly need to take that into account, it is not about getting out cheaply rather making an effort to play the inngs. Both of them do not make an effort to stay on the wicket, command and control is lost. It is interesting to give them chances but while we are at it we need to have other openers who can do the job. We cannot rely on makeshifts or seniors, there are capable players who can open for Pakistan. Start off new with Hameed and Hafeez while bench Butt for a while.
Cheegum bhaijan, openers are specialists. Even the best of players have hard times adjusting to opening the innings, and we can't take that risk with only three of our batsmen performing consistently. Second, Butt and Taufeeq looked good in this test match and they both have the talent and technique to succeed; they just need to show application and I'm sure they will be alright. We have seen Farhat and how he keeps throwing his wicket away.
Give the openers a chance...They are early in their career...i think Attapatu made 1 pair in his first test and look how good he became...
Salman did well against England last time out...and Sri Lankas openers didnt exactly fair any better against the new ball...
Give them an extended run...if they go out everytime worried that they could get dropped...then they wont perform...the Akmal thing was terrible management...Give them time to settle...Salman in particular is a good guy...
inzi opening