What are your thoughts about this test lineup

[Nauman]

Anyways I was just idling around on PP when I said lets make a new test 11, so I came up with this.

Asim Kamal
Hassan Raza
Younis Khan
Inzamam-ul-Haq
Yousaf Youhanna
Shahid Afridi
Kamran Akmal
Mohommad Sami
Shoaib Akhtar
Umar Gul
Danish Kaneria

I know openers are a bit dodgy but I think Salman Butt is way too young to be playing test cricket specially in this modern era, you need good experience nowdays, Butt should play 40 to 50 ODIs atleast before being tried in test cricket perfect example of this is Micheal Clarke, anyways I know this 11 will never be tried as Bob Woolmer and Inzi cannot part with Razzaq in the test lineup so its just hypothesis, there are three front line quicks even though I hate Sami but cant think of another quick that would make it before him, We also have a 5th bowler namely Shahid Afridi, batting seems a tad week but if you look at it its pretty much what its always like we bat till 6 normally but in those cases both our openers are useless ones here we have 2 solid ones, wether they perform as openers or not is yet to be seen. So your thoughts on my lineup?

[AFRIDI 4]

and does hasan raza have alot of experience, i think salman butt would be a better option

[Raz]

Inzi and Bob cant part with Razzaq for good reasons. He has been outstanding in recent Test matches. Why should Sami play eh? Hes the one with a disgraceful average in Tests, remember so why play him?

[Nauman]

As I said I cant think of another pace bowler down in the ranks who deserve or is capable of playing test cricket, maybe Shahid Nazir in place of Sami that is all I can think of.

[Dr_Saqib]

Excellent Test lineup, Nauman. There is however one selection which I do not agree with and that's of 'Muhammad Sami'. How can a player be selected in a Test team when gives 48-50 odd runs to get a Test wicket? Sami should long have been dropped from the Test side, but I do not know the reasons why he still is playing. Except for his intial very brief period in Test cricket he has been pathetic and absolutely does not deserve a place. Someone new should be tried like among Shahid Nazir, Najaf Shah [and there is another quickie whose name I can't remember right now]. Shahid Nazir has been outstanding in domestic cricket for a couple of seasons, and Najaf Shah has performed brilliantly in Pakistan A tours [as well as domestic seansons]. Our selectors need to give me chances [three consecutive Test matches], and I am sure they will prove their worth.

Good to see that Razzaq is not in the Test lineup. As far as Test cricket is concerned Razzaq is just a mediocre player at best. In batting: in his last 33 Test innings [since 2001] he has played he has just one 'fifty'. In his 61 Test innings [in which he has bowled] he has taken 'JUST ONE TIME' 5 wickets and two times 4 wickets. He can't be given a place on either batting or bowling, so he is not a Test all-rounder [he is just a 'bits and pieces player']. Can anyone remember how many Test matches he has won for us? Except his 71 against India [in India] can anyone remember his worthwhile performance?

[MIG]

I think Sami , when he had his injury was on his way to some kind of resurgence when the Indian tour ended... I think he needs one more chance possibly against England before we write him off totally.

[AT1]

Excellent Test lineup, Nauman. There is however one selection which I do not agree with and that's of 'Muhammad Sami'. How can a player be selected in a Test team when gives 48-50 odd runs to get a Test wicket? Sami should long have been dropped from the Test side, but I do not know the reasons why he still is playing. Except for his intial very brief period in Test cricket he has been pathetic and absolutely does not deserve a place. Someone new should be tried like among Shahid Nazir, Najaf Shah [and there is another quickie whose name I can't remember right now]. Shahid Nazir has been outstanding in domestic cricket for a couple of seasons, and Najaf Shah has performed brilliantly in Pakistan A tours [as well as domestic seansons]. Our selectors need to give me chances [three consecutive Test matches], and I am sure they will prove their worth.

Good to see that Razzaq is not in the Test lineup. As far as Test cricket is concerned Razzaq is just a mediocre player at best. In batting: in his last 33 Test innings [since 2001] he has played he has just one 'fifty'. In his 61 Test innings [in which he has bowled] he has taken 'JUST ONE TIME' 5 wickets and two times 4 wickets. He can't be given a place on either batting or bowling, so he is not a Test all-rounder [he is just a 'bits and pieces player']. Can anyone remember how many Test matches he has won for us? Except his 71 against India [in India] can anyone remember his worthwhile performance?


Dr. saab it seems you make decisions with averages and satistics. I dont think a team should b made in this way. form, expiernce...ect should also play a part. Even though Razzaq looks quite crap on paper, his test bowling has proved valuable in recent matches......but i argree with u on sami:32:

[Nauman]

Dr. saab it seems you make decisions with averages and satistics. I dont think a team should b made in this way. form, expiernce...ect should also play a part. Even though Razzaq looks quite crap on paper, his test bowling has proved valuable in recent matches......but i argree with u on sami:32:

I was tempted to include Razzaq in the side after seeing his performance with the ball in West Indies but remember wickets were helping medium pacers on that wicket thus Razzaq bowles well I really cannot see Razzaq bowling well on a flat track thus I excluded him.


There is however one selection which I do not agree with and that's of 'Muhammad Sami'. How can a player be selected in a Test team when gives 48-50 odd runs to get a Test wicket? Sami should long have been dropped from the Test side, but I do not know the reasons why he still is playing. Except for his intial very brief period in Test cricket he has been pathetic and absolutely does not deserve a place. Someone new should be tried like among Shahid Nazir, Najaf Shah [and there is another quickie whose name I can't remember right now]. Shahid Nazir has been outstanding in domestic cricket for a couple of seasons, and Najaf Shah has performed brilliantly in Pakistan A tours [as well as domestic seansons]. Our selectors need to give me chances [three consecutive Test matches], and I am sure they will prove their worth.

I agree I dont want Sami in the lineup but I just cannot see an upcomming paceman who can be a threat in test cricket, Shahid Nazir would be good for oneday cricket as he has excellent control on line and length and even in domestic cricket his quality performances have come in limited overs matches so there is still a question mark on test bowling. I would love to see Najaf Shah in the lineup he is a wildcard and also has a bright future but again do you think that Bob Woolmer or Inzi will have him? reading Bob's recent views he is just not willing to let go of Sami.

[zaf1986]

Nauman, I am still unsure with playing Asim Kamal as an opener. In fact, I would rather Shahid Afridi to play as an opener rather than Kamal.

[Nauman]

Afridi will never be your long term opening solution he will fire away in a match or two then flop for a number of matches that will only result in him being dropped from the test team, so I would rather have him cement a spot in the test 11 at number 6.