Hafeez slow strike rate? Batting woes?

[ads101]

There have been a lot of complaints about Hafeez's strike rate recently.

Here are hafeez's stats against non minnows since his comeback:
35.40 average at a SR of 76.74

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/eng...s;type=batting

Hafeez's stats against non minnows this year:
28.50 SR of 71.47.
http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/eng...s;type=batting


As we can see Hafeez's average is a bit underpar this year. 35-36 average overall opening is decent for an all rounder. He's performing below that standard this year. That strike rate for 2012 is significantly boosted too by that India innings. In 2012 in most games he's been extremely slow.


What the most interesting thing to not however is Hafeez's strike rate. As we've seen he seems to be scoring slower these days, consuming a lot of balls at the start. Hence many are criticising him for being too slow. This is a contrast to when he first arrived on comeback (i.e. excluding this year) where he scored relatively quickly. He was considered an aggressive top order batsman, part of the reason he was inducted in the limited overs side.

Question is what has changed? From what we saw when he emerged playing attackingly was good, playing a few shots helped him settled down and get his timing right. This defending at the beginning does not seem a good idea for him. His innings against India again he went for his shots early on.

Also the question is can Pakistan afford for hafeez to play like this? We need an aggressive opening batsman due to our relatively slow middle order. And I firmly believe hafeez plays better when playing attacking cricket. Surely with his place pretty much cemented on bowling alone, he should be instructed to go a bit more aggressively?

[MR__KHAN__JI]

In ODIs I agree we should hold fire....


T20 he is AWFUL

Tests he is AWFUL

[speed]

should exclude the 100 against india as the bowling attack in that game was on par with zimbabwae/ bangla.

[Bilal7]

Maybe 2011 was an above average year for him and now he's back to being himself.

He isn't that bad though, quite a decent opener but should consider moving down the order in ODI's.

[ads101]

Originally Posted by MR__KHAN__JI In ODIs I agree we should hold fire.... T20 he is AWFUL Tests he is AWFUL

useful bowler in T20s (he's easily within our 5 best bowling options anyway for T20s).

Useful all rounder in tests.

[mystical man]

Hafeez is a genuine allrounder and wish to have him someone like him in our ODI outfit...it is just a one game loss

[Strike!]

Hafeez is an awful batsman, How many more chances will he be given. Drop him down the order or drop him out of the team.

[Bullet Drive]

The thing is he can play well. He is a much better batsmen when being aggressive and scoring quickly. He's gone back to how he was at the start of his career. His purple patch is over and I don't rate him much as a batsmen. Useful ODI/T20 cricketer. Decent test cricketer.

[inzmam_fan]

Originally Posted by Strike! Hafeez is an awful batsman, How many more chances will he be given. Drop him down the order or drop him out of the team.

And replace him with who? Any suggestions?
Since we dont have another genuine all rounder we must persist with hafeez for the time being as he may be our future captain.

[ads101]

Originally Posted by Bullet Drive The thing is he can play well. He is a much better batsmen when being aggressive and scoring quickly. He's gone back to how he was at the start of his career. His purple patch is over and I don't rate him much as a batsmen. Useful ODI/T20 cricketer. Decent test cricketer.

difficult to see how purple patch could last so long. And he's still scoring centuries with a couple of good scores in tests lately too.

He's an improved player, but I think he's trying to play himself in too much. Might be as a result of trying to adapt his game to all formats. We want to him to play himself in in tests, but not so much in ODIs.

People were going on about him not converting his starts, but honestly his consistent 50 or so scores and a good strike rate which he did at the start of his comeback were very useful. In this side we need an aggressive option, and hafeez does play better playing aggressively.

[JibranAnsari]

The main issue with Hafeez , he consumes too many deliveries in the first 15 overs and score very slowly and do not let his partner make use of the powerplays.

[Strike!]

Originally Posted by inzmam_fan And replace him with who? Any suggestions? Since we dont have another genuine all rounder we must persist with hafeez for the time being as he may be our future captain.

Get Jamshed and Azhar to open.

[BoomBoomCricket]

Average batsmen, cunning bowler, active thinker

[Aymeking]

His slow batting is a big worry for Pakistan b'coz it puts pressure on the whole team.

he is a fine bowler but bowling is something secondary.his Main role is an Opener.if he becomes good bowler as Wasim Bhai Pakistan can not afford him with weak batting becoz it spoils the whole game..

[MR__KHAN__JI]

Originally Posted by ads101 useful bowler in T20s (he's easily within our 5 best bowling options anyway for T20s). Useful all rounder in tests.

I really like his bowling (to lefties)... Especially in T20

I would put him amongst the best in the world

[pakistani pride]

Should bat down the order, we need to get RID of MYK and make place for 2 new openers!

[pakcricketfan]

I agree with the OP that Hafeez plays better when he plays attacking cricket Hafeez seems to be playing far too cautiously at the start of the innings these days. Those elegant shots that he used to play are nowhere to be seen.
Perhaps it's the pressure of our fragile batting line-up, especially considering he doesn't have a settled opening partner and then YK's awfulness in ODIs these days. The "need" for him to be responsible - I think he's taking it far too seriously. Must get back to his natural game.

[Fireworks11]

He isn't an opnener. Just not good enough I'm afraid.

[786warrior]

Originally Posted by Fireworks11 He isn't an opnener. Just not good enough I'm afraid.

True, but his job (I suspect) is to protect the cowards who are supposedly our best batsmen - YK, misbah and mr lipstick boy? They hide behind the sacrificial lambs we have masquerading as openers.

No other team in the world has such cowardly tactics!

[Sherlock]

He's not a opener, full stop.

[PakHammer]

Ideally my top six in the next year for 50 over ODIs would be:-

1)Jamshed
2) Shahzed
3) Azhar Ali
4) U.Akmal
5) A.Shafique
6) Hafeez

The likes of Younus and Misbah wont be around for the next world cup so the younger players need a consistent run in the team to see if they can handle the pressure.

[ads101]

haha this thread just got quoted on the pakpassion twitter account. Awesome

[Sherlock]

The last time he played well was against India because he had Jamshed with him getting easy runs and taking the pressure off him.

[MR__KHAN__JI]

Originally Posted by PakHammer Ideally my top six in the next year for 50 over ODIs would be:- 1)Jamshed 2) Shahzed 3) Azhar Ali 4) U.Akmal 5) A.Shafique 6) Hafeez The likes of Younus and Misbah wont be around for the next world cup so the younger players need a consistent run in the team to see if they can handle the pressure.

Azhar
Hafeez
Shahzad
Akmal
Misbah
razzaq
Sarfaraz
Afridi
Gul
Riaz
Ajmal

[JibranAnsari]

Originally Posted by 786warrior True, but his job (I suspect) is to protect the cowards who are supposedly our best batsmen - YK, misbah and mr lipstick boy? They hide behind the sacrificial lambs we have masquerading as openers. No other team in the world has such cowardly tactics!

How is lipstick boy a coward because he says he wants to bat up the order..

[786warrior]

Originally Posted by JibranAnsari How is lipstick boy a coward because he says he wants to bat up the order..

We all know bigging oneself up in the media is quite different to what these guys will be saying in the locker room when they're wetting themselves

Plus lipstick boy needs to have time to apply his make up and lippy so he can't possibly bat higher you cruel meanie!

[JibranAnsari]

Originally Posted by 786warrior We all know bigging oneself up in the media is quite different to what these guys will be saying in the locker room when they're wetting themselves Plus lipstick boy needs to have time to apply his make up and lippy so he can't possibly bat higher you cruel meanie!

He can get up early to apply his make up and all but misbah won't allow him to bat higher.

[pakistani pride]

Really time for YK and Misbah to go, they wont be playing in 2015.
We need to NEW OPENERS and Azhar at 1 down.
This allows Hafeez to bat at no 6.

@ warrior UA is the 1 batsmen we have better respect him, poor guy wants to bat higher just our kaptaan the less said the better !

[786warrior]

Originally Posted by JibranAnsari He can get up early to apply his make up and all but misbah won't allow him to bat higher.

Ok ok fair enough, but for me he hasn't really shown me anything resembling consistency or temperament to have any faith in him - other than a few classy shots and brief knocks? But he's a good fielder though

YK is on his way out, misbah is following .... I despair for Pak batting at the moment!

[786warrior]

Originally Posted by pakistani pride Really time for YK and Misbah to go, they wont be playing in 2015. We need to NEW OPENERS and Azhar at 1 down. This allows Hafeez to bat at no 6. @ warrior UA is the 1 batsmen we have better respect him, poor guy wants to bat higher just our kaptaan the less said the better !

If that's what you believe - fair enough - but I'd rather have Azhar Ali who exhibits some fighting spirit?

If he's number 1 then isn't it time he started playing like that? Or is he a late developer like misbah??

[MR__KHAN__JI]

Originally Posted by 786warrior If that's what you believe - fair enough - but I'd rather have Azhar Ali who exhibits some fighting spirit? If he's number 1 then isn't it time he started playing like that? Or is he a late developer like misbah??

He is No 1

Who's better?

[JibranAnsari]

Originally Posted by 786warrior If that's what you believe - fair enough - but I'd rather have Azhar Ali who exhibits some fighting spirit? If he's number 1 then isn't it time he started playing like that? Or is he a late developer like misbah??

Well , I don't see a batsman better than umar akmal in ODIs despite all his brainfarts and shorts innings. He averages 40+ at both 5 and 6 and has not played at number 3 and 4 enough to really say how good can he be at these positions. Younis khan despite all his failure at number 3 for last 3 years has been playing consistently , give junior 10 matches @3 or 4 and if he does not fire then the criticism will be justified that he does not deserve these positions but the argument that he has not done well down the order is totally wrong.

[ads101]

Originally Posted by MR__KHAN__JI He is No 1 Who's better?

This is the order of the best batsman in the team

1. Misbah
2. Umar akmal
3. Hafeez

These three are by far the strongest in the team. If Jamshed and/or Azhar keeps performing to a high standard they could join these three.

The reason we're harsh on Umar akmal is because he out of all the three has the most potential to improve. He does cave to pressure and doesn't absorb pressure which you need to do as a middle order batsman. Something which misbah does (despite his occasional off days, hence his ridiculous average in wins). Hafeez gets away with this a bit, as he's an opener, his duty is more to put scores on the board and let the middle order have something to build on. It's generally easier batting as a middle order than opening but you have the pressure of run rate more and carrying the team over the finish line, thus more pressure.

Hafeez has the potential to improve a bit too despite the fact he's 30 or so.

Misbah doesn't have much potential to improve, in fact he might get worse from now on considering his age. But he's by far the strongest ODI batsman in the side and one of our best limited overs bats overall.

[attock]

Hafeez has lost his attacking style of play and that is a problem. We have too many tuk tuk players in the team hence we can't post a big score or chase down a decent total.............

I think Azhar Ali and Asad should replace YK and Misbah in the ODI team and start building for the future......

Are there any Wicket keeper batsman in Pakistan who can open (besides Kamran)? Can Jamal Anwar play as an attacking opener?

As we need an aggressive opener who can keep aswell thus playing Hammad at 6 and Afridi at 7, at the moment our batting lineup is very weak

My ideal batting line up would be

1. Hafeez
2. Wkt keeper who can open (Attacking batsman)
3. Azhar ALi
4. Umer Akmal
5. Asad
6. Hammad
7. Afridi
8. Bowlign Allrounder (hopefully Amir can come back as our bowling allrounder, he was decent with the bat)

[Couch Cricketer]

We cant play Hafeez and Afridi both in ODI's one of them has to go.

[ads101]

Originally Posted by Couch Cricketer We cant play Hafeez and Afridi both in ODI's one of them has to go.

Agree with this partly. On the subcontinent, windies it's fine. In bouncy conditions like australia, South Africa etc. it's not. We need three pacers, and we can't afford to weaken our bowling.

We keep playing an extra batsman because we're afraid to drop afridi when we want three pacers. Which isn't right.

If Afridi can open, maintain a batting average of 36 and keep up his bowling (perhaps improve his bowling a bit), then sure pick Afridi or Hafeez. But that's not going to happen. Hence it's hafeez over afridi.

It's such a shame afridi neglected his batting. He could never afford to do that. There are always good spin bowlers out there who can replace him with the ball. Needs to show his worth with the bat. Hafeez, not sure he'd hold his place down solely with the ball, when guys like raza hasan and yasir shah waiting in the wings.

Afridi needs to man up, go play some Pakistani first class cricket focusing on the bat. Act and demand to himself that he should play as a proper batsman not as a tailender whether batting at six or at eight.

Hafeez has nowhere near the talent of Afridi, but at least he's trying to fight in all departments. He's not giving up his batting when his bowling has improved (and might keep himself in the side just on bowling), and he's still fighting to prove he can succeed as an opener and in all formats. It's very possible to succeed with both the ball and bat.

[s28]

Originally Posted by ads101 There have been a lot of complaints about Hafeez's strike rate recently. Here are hafeez's stats against non minnows since his comeback: 35.40 average at a SR of 76.74 http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/eng...s;type=batting Hafeez's stats against non minnows this year: 28.50 SR of 71.47. http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/eng...s;type=batting As we can see Hafeez's average is a bit underpar this year. 35-36 average overall opening is decent for an all rounder. He's performing below that standard this year. That strike rate for 2012 is significantly boosted too by that India innings. In 2012 in most games he's been extremely slow. What the most interesting thing to not however is Hafeez's strike rate. As we've seen he seems to be scoring slower these days, consuming a lot of balls at the start. Hence many are criticising him for being too slow. This is a contrast to when he first arrived on comeback (i.e. excluding this year) where he scored relatively quickly. He was considered an aggressive top order batsman, part of the reason he was inducted in the limited overs side. Question is what has changed? From what we saw when he emerged playing attackingly was good, playing a few shots helped him settled down and get his timing right. This defending at the beginning does not seem a good idea for him. His innings against India again he went for his shots early on. Also the question is can Pakistan afford for hafeez to play like this? We need an aggressive opening batsman due to our relatively slow middle order. And I firmly believe hafeez plays better when playing attacking cricket. Surely with his place pretty much cemented on bowling alone, he should be instructed to go a bit more aggressively?

Liability as an opener in this format.

Pakistan will certainly be better off with SPECIALIST T20 openers like Nasir Jamshed and Imran Nazir to open and benefit from Power Play

[s28]

Hafeez slow batting and inability to rotate strike causing too much pressure at other end

[Bullet Drive]

He's been the cause of 3 wickets now. Also has been dropped. I think he's been dropped every game. A pathetic useless batsman

[Mike Bassett]

He should never be in the team never been a fan of his

[w8in_4_0402]

Disgraceful pressure got t him.

[Mohsin]

So after he played himself in, set himself a platform with his tuk tuk genius....

















...gets out. Shabaash, awesome planning

[s28]

Professorial

[MRSN]

We were saying this before the start of tournament that he should let Nasir open and bat himself in the middle or lower down the order but I think it's too late..

[pakistani pride]

every 1 every 1 knows that he would get exposed against good teams or in a pressure game !
send nasir and imran so SIMPLE !

[dirk diggler]

a disaster waiting to happen, others performing has meant he slipped under the radar.

[s28]

Look at Hafeez in dugout explaining how he planned all this

[IAJ]

If we lose this match I would blame Hafeez and only him! What an uninspiring captain! The guy really messed up the innings by blocking and putting preassure on the rest. He faced so many hit-where ever you want-balls but he just blocked them.

[FusedBulb]

Seriously,
You had Irfan Pathan bowling as a spinner.
Zaheer all over the place,
part time bowlers like Yuvi and Kohli taking wickets.

Yes, Ashwin may be been good but really ... was Ashwin SO SCARY that Hafeez peed in his pants just by having Ashwin on the field??

This was a club level third class bowling attack, Pakistan should have bowled first I think.

I still don't understand what exactly put Hafeez under SO MUCH pressure that he had his brain locked in chains?

[Zamee]

lol He was our Misbah today

[MRSN]

Originally Posted by Zamee lol He was our Misbah today

Misbah would not have thrown the wicket like that.

[s28]

Unbelievable but tailender Gul has better career strike rate in T20 than Hafeez who should be a tailender

[MRSN]

Originally Posted by FusedBulb Seriously, You had Irfan Pathan bowling as a spinner. Zaheer all over the place, part time bowlers like Yuvi and Kohli taking wickets. Yes, Ashwin may be been good but really ... was Ashwin SO SCARY that Hafeez peed in his pants just by having Ashwin on the field?? This was a club level third class bowling attack, Pakistan should have bowled first I think. I still don't understand what exactly put Hafeez under SO MUCH pressure that he had his brain locked in chains?

to be all honest Nasir,Kami would have smashed them at the top but they made to come and face the spinners instead which they don't find easy so fail strategy to bat them in the middle overs..it could work in 1,2 games but not a permanent solution..You know what our best batsman Umar came to bat at 7..that sums up it up really.

[MR__KHAN__JI]

Originally Posted by ads101 This is the order of the best batsman in the team 1. Misbah 2. Umar akmal 3. Hafeez These three are by far the strongest in the team. If Jamshed and/or Azhar keeps performing to a high standard they could join these three. The reason we're harsh on Umar akmal is because he out of all the three has the most potential to improve. He does cave to pressure and doesn't absorb pressure which you need to do as a middle order batsman. Something which misbah does (despite his occasional off days, hence his ridiculous average in wins). Hafeez gets away with this a bit, as he's an opener, his duty is more to put scores on the board and let the middle order have something to build on. It's generally easier batting as a middle order than opening but you have the pressure of run rate more and carrying the team over the finish line, thus more pressure. Hafeez has the potential to improve a bit too despite the fact he's 30 or so. Misbah doesn't have much potential to improve, in fact he might get worse from now on considering his age. But he's by far the strongest ODI batsman in the side and one of our best limited overs bats overall.

Umar akmal is our best batsman.

Hafeez is simply a minnow bAsher.

A dot ball king.

[hefaith]

lol, Hafeez pulled off a Misbah today, anyways no need to drop him from captaincy yet

[MC]

It's nothing but an obvious lack of natural talent.

[Sledger]

Originally Posted by Zamee lol He was our Misbah today

Actually, boom boom Misbah struck at a 70+ SR at Mohali and it was an ODI game.