Should the Australia ODI series be used to test our bench strength?

[msb314]

Considering this series is in the UAE and our lack of rest leading up to the WC - I would suggest resting some of our established players and testing our bench strength.

Specifically - I would rest Fakhar, Babar, Hafeez, Asif, Sarfraz, Afridi, Hasan and Amir (SENA specialist)

I would include Malik and use this series as a “tryout” for him. If he succeeds - then include him in the WC but if he fails - then should be dropped by all means.

I would also use this series to give practice to shadab, Imad and Faheem and hopefully they can find form right before the WC.

Play Masood as an opener alongside Imam and play Saad Ali and Saud in the middle order and see what they are made of. Play Rizwan so that he can find some much needed form. Play Junaid and maybe Shinwari as the pacers - maybe include Yasir too and see if he has it to make the WC squad.

Thoughts?

[TheSensible]

Great idea to not let the first-rung WC prospects play against potentially the same team they may he playing against in the world cup.... not.

[Pete Rose]

no...we should be using it find new talent for the world cup because the current middle order doesnt deserve to be there.

[iPakistani]

Should be the First XI for the first couple games, after that rest them for the next 3 games. Try out PSL finds or domestic performers in the last 3 games.

[giri26]

The T20 games should be used to test the bench strength. The ODI series should strictly be used as practice for the World Cup with personnel you want to take with you to England.

[SarfiBabarHaris]

No play the full strength team and i hope Aus play Smith and Warner too.

Need tough competition before the world cup.

[JibranAnsari]

We dont have any bench strength.

[moghul]

That would have been the right approach but I'm afraid, Hafeez, Malik, Sarfraz and all those seniors will be playing. Nephew will also be playing all the games.

[Justcrazy]

PCB does not have this concept of testing bench strength , its only team playing 20 20 also with full strength.

[ABMiller]

I would ideally like to see Babar and Shaheen rested and new players tried out in their places. Both Babar and Shaheen are certain starter's in the playing 11 in the WC.

[Usman Chadda]

This close to the World Cup? Sure

[ahmadharis1]

The players playing in ODI series against England before the WC should essentially be the WC squad, so this is the last chance to try out new players. Don't want to see any debutants in the WC

[SensiblePakFan]

The T20 games should be used to test the bench strength. The ODI series should strictly be used as practice for the World Cup with personnel you want to take with you to England.

agreed

[BaankeJi]

No testing for ODIs. Now is time for dress rehearsal.

[msb314]

Great idea to not let the first-rung WC prospects play against potentially the same team they may he playing against in the world cup.... not.

Great idea to play Australia in conditions totally different than in the and burnout out players in another JAMODI..... not.

[msb314]

no...we should be using it find new talent for the world cup because the current middle order doesnt deserve to be there.

Exactly why Saud Shakeel and Saad Ali need to play in the Australia series.

If they do well - they should be on the plane to England instead of Haris and possibly even Malik.

[msb314]

Should be the First XI for the first couple games, after that rest them for the next 3 games. Try out PSL finds or domestic performers in the last 3 games.

That would be a good approach except that there will unlikely be any dead rubbers so our management will just go with the seniors for all five ODI's and everyone else will be rotting on the bench.

[msb314]

We dont have any bench strength.

Haris, Masood, Rizwan and some newbies like Saud or Saad Ali need to have some game time.

[msb314]

That would have been the right approach but I'm afraid, Hafeez, Malik, Sarfraz and all those seniors will be playing. Nephew will also be playing all the games.

I'm fine with nephew playing the Australia series considering he is still relatively raw at the international level and should try to gain as much experience as he possibly can.

The rest I agree need to be rested.

[msb314]

This close to the World Cup? Sure

We have plenty of time before the WC.

- PSL (ODi's are an extension of T20's nowadays anyway)
- England ODi series in April
- WC warmup games in May

[TheSensible]

Great idea to play Australia in conditions totally different than in the and burnout out players in another JAMODI..... not.

If they’re playing on another planet with comprehensively different conditions, you have a point. But if you’re talking about similarly situated players, on different track conditions, you will get no better practice for WC (given current circumstances) than playing against a team of players you will play in the biggest tournament for international cricket.

Cricketers don’t run marathons playing cricket that they’ll “burnout” over an ODI tournament by the way. They’re professional athletes and cricket isn’t exactly the most physically demanding sport (except for fast bowlers) to even consider the prospect of “burnout” at most times.

[JibranAnsari]

Haris, Masood, Rizwan and some newbies like Saud or Saad Ali need to have some game time.

You do this like at least a year ahead of world cup , not 10 matches ago. Too late to test the 'bench strength' now.

[big_gamer007]

Pakistan needs to send 15 members who are part of world cup plans and then roatate the players to let everyone get some match practice.. Ideally the first 3 games they should play their best 11 which they think is right for WC then in next 2 games try the bench by resting few players.

[Hasan123]

We could test middle order players instead Hafeez and Malik, also a specialist spinner but Pakistan don’t know what that means.

[Markhor]

I wouldn't mind us rotating v Australia but against England we must play the combination we're looking to play in the World Cup.

[Amjid Javed]

Anyone thinking pakistan are going to rotate team or test fringe players it aint going to happen. It didnt happen in SA wont happen here, all TTFs and team favourites will be given free ride into team going into world cup.

[Kohli, The King of Chase]

Play your best 11 in the first 3 matches.

Imam
Fakhar
Babar
Haris
Hafeez
Imad
Sarfraz + *
Shadab
Hassan
Shaheen
Junaid

[Abdullah]

We should practice the style we want to adopt with our first choice squad.
Babar defo needs to play so that he builds up his aura pre world cup

[Abdullah]

He can rest t20s

[a_tahir]

Play your best 11 in the first 3 matches.

Imam
Fakhar
Babar
Haris
Hafeez
Imad
Sarfraz + *
Shadab
Hassan
Shaheen
Junaid

This is actually a pretty decent team. Just wish that Haris is available

[Ami]

Play your best 11 in the first 3 matches.

Imam
Fakhar
Babar
Haris
Hafeez
Imad
Sarfraz + *
Shadab
Hassan
Shaheen
Junaid

Only Sarfaraz doesnt sit well there...lol,
put him down to no 12

[Ami]

Great idea though to test bench strength...

[msb314]

If they’re playing on another planet with comprehensively different conditions, you have a point. But if you’re talking about similarly situated players, on different track conditions, you will get no better practice for WC (given current circumstances) than playing against a team of players you will play in the biggest tournament for international cricket.

Cricketers don’t run marathons playing cricket that they’ll “burnout” over an ODI tournament by the way. They’re professional athletes and cricket isn’t exactly the most physically demanding sport (except for fast bowlers) to even consider the prospect of “burnout” at most times.

Cricket does not always work out that way. On the UAE wickets - games will be low scoring and I bet your bottom dollar that Malik and Hafeez will be sent up the order due to their experience and proficiency at playing spin. As we all know - this would be suicide in English conditions. Mickey may also want to play another spinner such as Nawaz or Yasir on the UAE dustbowls- of course both of which are unlikely to play in Engliand anyway.

Regarding fatigue - yes our cricketers do not have to run marathons but they have been on the road since early December when our tour of South Africa begun. They need a rest mentally to recuperate and to stay fresh for the WC. Of course there is also the imminent risk of injury that could occur during the Aus ODI series.

[msb314]

You do this like at least a year ahead of world cup , not 10 matches ago. Too late to test the 'bench strength' now.

If one of our youngsters does well - I wouldn't mind him being as a backup in the WC squad.

[mesmerizer85]

I just hope Mickey Arthur has not fixed his mind on Players like Talat Hussain without trying other deserving candidates like Saud or Saad. They definitely need to be tested to bring some respect to our brittle middle order.

[mesmerizer85]

Even Shan masood has not been tried in ODIs..