Afridi as a test match option?

[Julian87]

Yeah, Afridi's Test batting average is essentially worthless. If he'd played every Test from debut to Pakistan's most recent he'd struggle to average 25.

And what mathematical formula was used to derive that conclusion ?

I want this answered by Nostradamus.

 

[Xuhaib]

I see. A bit odd then that none of them have ever come close to doing what Afridi supposedly did at 17 though, no?

Younis, Afridi and Gul are the only 3 genuine Pathans that have played for Pakistan considering one is a proper bat the other a specialist bowler so its understandable none have come close. I have played lots of school cricket withyShahid's younger brother Mushtaq and he use to hit monster 70-80 meters sixes and this was barely grade 6-7 when most of us struggled to hit a boundary on that huge ground.

 

[Richard]

No.

Well actually it is, though Xuhaib's explanation clears things up to some extent.

 

[Richard]

I want this answered by Nostradamus.

Why, it's a silly question. The answer is obviously that no mathematical formula was used, just basic common-sense.

 

[mohammad16]

It doesn't matter if people from Afridis race tend to age faster or quicker, the simple fact is that he is at least 3 years older then his listed age of 29/30 on cricinfo. In fact there is an interview on youtube in urdu in which he himself states that due to the Pakistan cricket structure, almost all players fake their age by 3-4 years. The interviewer then went onto ask him if that was the case then he too would be older than his listed age, and Afridi said, obviously I mentioned everyone.

Anyways as far as a test option, it would be outrageously stupid not to include this guy in the test side, this shouldn't even be a debate. He has totally transformed himself as a leg spinner in the past 3 years, yes he came on initially as a leg spinner, but this recent transformation is very significant, he never got the amount of drift he gets now, he never had such a potent quick googly, and he never delivered the ball with the seam perfectly rotating and visible.

Forget his bowling, he should make the team on his batting abilities alone, I remember a few years back Pakistan was in India and India had set Pakistan a 350 odd total to chase down on the final day with all their wickets in tact. Afridi opened the batting a hit a quick fire 50 allowing Pakistan to actually go after this total. Traditionally if you take Afridis innings out of the equation, no Pakistan side would ever in current circumstances would even attempt to chase the total down. The Indians were totally on the defensive and demoralized while he was at the crease. I recall 2 years ago South Africa had set Pakistan less then 350 on a flat track in Pakistan with a whole days of play left, and Pakistan opted to fight for a draw from the first ball on. It was pathetic. The point is that Afridi adds another dimension to the Pakistan line up, he is energetic and brings tremendous energy to the side, and he is always willing to take the attack to the opposition, with the kind of test cricket we play these days, you cant risk not having him at the top of the order opening the batting in certain test situations. It lifts the whole team up and I am all for his inclusion and also Kanerias.

peace

 

[SJS]

For which country ??

 

[slowfinger]

It doesn't matter if people from Afridis race tend to age faster or quicker, the simple fact is that he is at least 3 years older then his listed age of 29/30 on cricinfo. In fact there is an interview on youtube in urdu in which he himself states that due to the Pakistan cricket structure, almost all players fake their age by 3-4 years. The interviewer then went onto ask him if that was the case then he too would be older than his listed age, and Afridi said, obviously I mentioned everyone.

Anyways as far as a test option, it would be outrageously stupid not to include this guy in the test side, this shouldn't even be a debate. He has totally transformed himself as a leg spinner in the past 3 years, yes he came on initially as a leg spinner, but this recent transformation is very significant, he never got the amount of drift he gets now, he never had such a potent quick googly, and he never delivered the ball with the seam perfectly rotating and visible.

Forget his bowling, he should make the team on his batting abilities alone, I remember a few years back Pakistan was in India and India had set Pakistan a 350 odd total to chase down on the final day with all their wickets in tact. Afridi opened the batting a hit a quick fire 50 allowing Pakistan to actually go after this total. Traditionally if you take Afridis innings out of the equation, no Pakistan side would ever in current circumstances would even attempt to chase the total down. The Indians were totally on the defensive and demoralized while he was at the crease. I recall 2 years ago South Africa had set Pakistan less then 350 on a flat track in Pakistan with a whole days of play left, and Pakistan opted to fight for a draw from the first ball on. It was pathetic. The point is that Afridi adds another dimension to the Pakistan line up, he is energetic and brings tremendous energy to the side, and he is always willing to take the attack to the opposition, with the kind of test cricket we play these days, you cant risk not having him at the top of the order opening the batting in certain test situations. It lifts the whole team up and I am all for his inclusion and also Kanerias.

peace

AWTA
But this is test match and you can't really rely on him doing that when his team REALLY need it IMO.

 

[SJS]

Okay lets put Afridi in perspective.

The guy is amazing. There is no one alive who saw Jessop batting but if there is one batsman who could have been termed a legend like the "Croucher", Afridi was the man. Let's not fool ourselves. He put the fear of God in bowlers around the world. How many times in those early years of his career have I told myself, "If only India had such a batsman in their ranks".

There is no shame in admitting that.

It was not just that he was such a phenomenally powerful hitter; he played with a dead straight bat! He DROVE those massive sixes out of the biggest grounds in the world. I have seen only Ian Botham drive so consistently powerfully without the slightest hint of a slog. This was his biggest strength. Jessop hit across the line of the ball almost all the time. This guy NEVER.

Now that is a fantastic combination if it could be harnessed in combination with a sound head. And that, unfortunately, turned out to be a massive 'if'.

I have absolutely no doubt that if Afridi had allowed himself to be talked to by a sensible coach, mentor, ex player whoever, he would have produced astounding results consistently without compromising on the strike rate which, sadly, may remain his only legacy as of now. And that is a legacy of extremely doubtful consequence except in the context of the 'macho' Pathan image so endearing to young Pakistani fans.

Afridi did not have to curb his natural amazingly powerful stroke play. All he had to do was stop playing Tarzan or Superman or Arnold Schwazenegger or whatever he tries to show himself off as with that bat in hand.

He had a fantastic gift and he ruined it by playing the terminator with air between his ears.

I dont care about his birth certificate and the date mentioned on it. He still has some years of cricket left in him and if he just realised that a man of his abilities with the bat cant behave like Harbhajan Singh, he will do himself and Pakistani cricket a great service and cricket fans, Pakistanis and opponents alike, will be treated to spectacles that we will tell our grandchildren about without mocking the hero of the tale as "that half-witted moron".

I used to love the guy's batting (and hated him for battering Indian bowlers) but most of the recent times that I can remember, I have laughed at him.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Haha, yeah. When I watch Afridi bat these days, it's generally accompanied by laughter, often in response to the precociousness (sp) of the shot, until I start laughing about how silly his dismissal was.

 

[Athlai]

I honestly think he should just be played as a bowling allrounder, 6-8 is where he should be in the batting lineup. Players like Vettori have proved the worth of a top class batsman low down the order, and Afridi doesn't exactly need anyone to stick with him.

 

[SJS]

With all Afridi's bowling in ODI's, and a fair modicum of success too, how come he has never had much success as a bowler in Tests? Anyone has opinions?

For an allrounder, his batting is good enough (although it is pathetic against Australia and not too hot against England) but he has to do better than this to be in the side as an all rounder.

He had a five wicket haul in the very first innings he bowled in Tests and never again.

• 8 wickets at 19.4 in 2 Tests.... and then
• 39 wickets at 38.1 in 24 Tests

In ODI's his bowling has become much better than it used to be.

• 56 wkts at 51.6 in 95 ODI's .... and then
• 186 wkts at 30.0 in 186 ODI's

Any ideas ?

 

[vic_orthdox]

Some people talk of how he tends to be picked on flatter wickets because of his batting, and this may mean that his bowling is affected.

The other thing is that the pace of his bowling means that batsmen can sit on him and be more patient, and that with the more attacking fields of Test cricket he is not as dangerous.

 

[DingDong]

Yeah, Afridi's Test batting average is essentially worthless. If he'd played every Test from debut to Pakistan's most recent he'd struggle to average 25.

I'm very curious as to how you extrapolated this average. Can u please provide all the information on statistical methods used?

 

[Naumaan]

Afridi could have been used against teams like Australia, England, Newzealand & South Africa on spinning tracks
but unfortunately there is no home games for Pakistan & they aren't going to play tests in UAE so i don't think they will pick him
But MOST IMPORTANTLY he will also not like to play tests

 

[Manee]

With all Afridi's bowling in ODI's, and a fair modicum of success too, how come he has never had much success as a bowler in Tests? Anyone has opinions?

For an allrounder, his batting is good enough (although it is pathetic against Australia and not too hot against England) but he has to do better than this to be in the side as an all rounder.

He had a five wicket haul in the very first innings he bowled in Tests and never again.

• 8 wickets at 19.4 in 2 Tests.... and then
• 39 wickets at 38.1 in 24 Tests

In ODI's his bowling has become much better than it used to be.

• 56 wkts at 51.6 in 95 ODI's .... and then
• 186 wkts at 30.0 in 186 ODI's

Any ideas ?

I don't have the effort, atm, to look up the precise stats, but I think you'll find that Afridi's ODI bowling record would have been greatly helped by some very good recent form whereas he hasn't played a Test, for quite a while.

 

[tooextracool]

There is a case for playing Afridi in test match cricket as a bowling all rounder. His batting record is not horrible, nor is his bowling for that matter and his fielding would be a useful addition to the side.

 

[tooextracool]

Anyone who saw Afridi's 141 in the famous Chennai tests knows his capability as a player when he decides to give the bowler a bit of respect. I think it also depends on how well Younis Khan's captaincy can improve his approach.

or his century in the caribbean. He can bat when he puts his mind to it.

 

[Uppercut]

I don't have the effort, atm, to look up the precise stats, but I think you'll find that Afridi's ODI bowling record would have been greatly helped by some very good recent form whereas he hasn't played a Test, for quite a while.

Yeah, I think this is a factor. He's improved out of sight as a bowler but his test record still speaks of a time when he was a little bit more part-time.

 

[bullseye]

Test match format is abolutely different from One day format. Besides it would be unfair to compare a Bowling All- rounder with a Specialist Bowler.

You need Specialist Bowlers who has proven wicket taking capabilies to be the main strike bowler than someone whose striking capabilities is not fully established in tests.

As far as his batting is concerned he has improved by leaps and bounds and deserve to bat at a higher position .

I don't want him to bat as an opener.

I think he would be a good option as a future captain if he can maintain consistency with bat and ball in tests.

 

[AaronK]

there is a chance that Afridi might play the test matches in Aus at the end of this year when Pakistan tours Aus...it will be interesting to see who is he going to replace..