***Official*** Bangladesh in New Zealand

[Fiery]

Are you sure Ashraful was ever picked as a specialist spinner? Admittedly I'm not very familiar with the start of his career, but I was always under the impression he was a batsmen who could roll the arm over, and never anything else. Afridi doesn't have the mental aspect to be considered as a class player, but both have underacheived so far in their career.

Yes, he started his career as a leg-spinner who could bat.

 

[Fiery]

As pure batsmen? ITSTL.

As a batsman in both forms...and cricketer in general

 

[NZTailender]

Yes, he started his career as a leg-spinner who could bat.

Other way around, I thought.

 

[Bahnz]

Are you sure Ashraful was ever picked as a specialist spinner? Admittedly I'm not very familiar with the start of his career, but I was always under the impression he was a batsmen who could roll the arm over, and never anything else. Afridi doesn't have the mental aspect to be considered as a class player, but both have underacheived so far in their career.

Actually you're right, he started off as an all rounder, who's since focused mainly on his batting. Again, I don't really think you can say that Ashraful has the mental aspect to be a class player either. The fact that Afridi averages significantly higher than Ashraful in test cricket doesn't exactly fall in Ashraful's favour either.

 

[Perm]

Yes, he started his career as a leg-spinner who could bat.

Any proof? I'm just hunting through some old match reports now and I haven't found anything yet.

 

[Fiery]

Other way around, I thought.

Read last sentence of his Wikipedia profile (Miscella) . He was discovered as a bowler in the nets as an unknown kid who was hanging around at the time and brought into the team as a spinner, if I recall correctly

 

[NZTailender]

Haha, caught off a no ball.

 

[NZTailender]

Haha, bowled off a free hit. Was a good ball itbt.

 

[Aritro]

Just to clarify, Ashraful had already more or less developed into a batsman who could roll the arm over by the time he was in the U/19s.

I think the specialist leg-spin was a childhood thing.

 

[Prince EWS]

Ashraful started his junior career as a bowler who could bat a bit, yes. By the time he hit the international scene though, he was most certainly a batsman.

 

[Halfpast_Yellow]

LOL @ that last song choice they played.

 

[Perm]

Again, I don't really think you can say that Ashraful has the mental aspect to be a class player either. The fact that Afridi averages significantly higher than Ashraful in test cricket doesn't exactly fall in Ashraful's favour either.

Ashraful has shown in the past he can stand up when his team needs him. 3 Test centuries in fairly trying conditions, not to mention numerous fifties when his team has crumbled around him.

Afridi's Test career has been strange. An average of 37 is good, but doesn't tell the full story. He has almost never been a constant selection in the side and is often dropped when the selectors want a certain make-up for the Test side. This is one reason his average has remained fairly high, as he hasn't failed for extended periods of time due to him being in and out of the side frequently. Not to mention most of his runs being made on absolute roads or against poor bowling attacks.

103 vs India in a match where 1089 runs were scored and just 8 wickest taken.
156 vs India in a match total of 1702 runs and 30 wickets.
107 vs West Indies out of 472 against the might of Cuffy, Dillon, Collins and Deonarine.
122 vs West Indies in an innings where Pakistan had were facing an immense target and the West Indies had only 3 specialist bowlers (Collymore, King and Powell)

 

[Fiery]

Just further to the Afridi v Ashraful thing. Ashraful's average (and strike rate for that matter) are still appalling for a top-order player. You can excuse Afridi's average a bit (which is still better than Ashraful's) when you are striking at > 110....I mean 110!...wow

 

[Perm]

Just to clarify, Ashraful had already more or less developed into a batsman who could roll the arm over by the time he was in the U/19s.

I think the specialist leg-spin was a childhood thing.

Ashraful started his junior career as a bowler who could bat a bit, yes. By the time he hit the international scene though, he was most certainly a batsman.

Right, thanks. Didn't think I was wrong

 

[Perm]

Just further to the Afridi v Ashraful thing. Ashraful's average (and strike rate for that matter) are still appalling for a top-order player. You can excuse Afridi's average a bit (which is still better than Ashraful's) when you are striking at > 110....I mean 110!...wow

Shahid Afridi has played 144 innings opening the innings, so he has had plenty of opportunities to play a big innings and increase his average. Ashraful has unfortunately been used as an opener and a #3 in the past, when his preferred and best spot is quite clearly in the middle order at either #4, #5 or #6. For the record he averages 27.34 once you exclude his top order batting, which is reasonable for a Bangladeshi batsmen who is still 23.

 

[Fiery]

Are you sure Ashraful was ever picked as a specialist spinner? Admittedly I'm not very familiar with the start of his career, but I was always under the impression he was a batsmen who could roll the arm over, and never anything else. Afridi doesn't have the mental aspect to be considered as a class player, but both have underacheived so far in their career.

17 Man of the match awards and > 5000 runs at 110 strike rate is NOT underachieving in my books. Sure his average could be better but when you're plaing as high risk as that and scoring that quickly obviously the average will suffer. His value to the game as an entertainer is immeasurable

 

[Fiery]

Shahid Afridi has played 144 innings opening the innings, so he has had plenty of opportunities to play a big innings and increase his strike rate. Ashraful has unfortunately been used as an opener and a #3 in the past, when his preferred and best spot is quite clearly in the middle order at either #4, #5 or #6. For the record he averages 27.34 once you exclude his top order batting, which is reasonable for a Bangladeshi batsmen who is still 23.

Don't you mean average?

 

[Prince EWS]

Afridi is rubbish as a batsman alone. I'm not saying Ashraful is much better as I really don't rate him either, but I'd take him before Afridi on batting alone for sure.

 

[Fiery]

100 ODI wickets for Mills

 

[Fiery]

Afridi is rubbish as a batsman alone. I'm not saying Ashraful is much better as I really don't rate him either, but I'd take him before Afridi on batting alone for sure.

That statement is rubbish iyam