Misbah doing to Ajmal what Dhoni did to Bhajji?

[Statsman]

In ODIs, asking him to restrict the batsmen's scoring rate than take wickets - in the process disturbing the bowler's natural style of bowling?

[Spiderguy252]

Ajmal > Harbhajan Singh. I'm sure he'll be okay.

Off-topic, but Kumble vs Ajmal should be a decent comparison.

[LegCutter]

Misbah made Ajmal into who he is today; before Misbah's captaincy Ajmal was never the spearhead he is today. I'm sure Ajmal will be fine.

[waqar goraya]

Originally Posted by LegCutter Misbah made Ajmal into who he is today; before Misbah's captaincy Ajmal was never the spearhead he is today. I'm sure Ajmal will be fine.

true..it was misbah who got him selected first in pak team...
there is a difference betwwen two..ajmal is still at his prime where as bhaji was not

[zains_rulez]

Misbah supported Ajmal all they way .... even in his interview he only mentioned ajmals absence factor ..

[LegCutter]

The previous captains used Ajmal as a containing bowler. Misbah turned him into a wicket-taking bowler.

And please dont ever compare Bhajji to Ajmal lol

[PakCrikNeedsFixin]

He didn't compare the two - he made a valid point about how the captains are using/used them.

I partly agree with you, the field settings when Ajmal is bowling are too negative. We need to always have a slip in when he is bowling!

[avidlearner]

MSD was no way the reason for Bhajji's darters(and decline). In fact, Bhajji became a crap much before MSD took the reigns of India LOI side. Barring few odd games here and there, bhajji was never fond of bowling flighted deliveries even during Saurav/Dravid's regime.

I feel, Bhajji is always afraid of getting tonked by batters in ODIs

[Love Pakistan]

Originally Posted by Spiderguy252 Ajmal > Harbhajan Singh. I'm sure he'll be okay. Off-topic, but Kumble vs Ajmal should be a decent comparison.

Leg spinner vs off spiner is a no comparison! Maybe Kumble vs Afridi would be a better comparison!

[Garuda]

Not sure about Ajmal but for Bhajji only Bhajji is responsible.

After being a permanent member of the team, he never enhanced his skills. He kept on relying on same kind of bowling without developing it.

The batsmen all over the world keep adopting to different bowling and slowly they were comfortable with Bhajji without any new variation.

That is the main reason for Bhajji's downfall. Why a Captain will ask his strike bowler to contain if the bowler is in a position to take wickets? There is no better way to contain than taking wickets.

[Kray_jackson7]

Missed chunks out of the matches due to exams but was following as much as i could on cricinfo and found this interesting at the start of play for the 5th ODI:

'First reactions on Pakistan's changes: Waqar Younis is not impressed at all. "How can you drop the one and only Saeed Ajmal who is the man who wins you matches?" It would be true generally, but Misbah has used him in a perplexing manner: he bowls six overs in Powerplays, another two or three at the death, and thus bowls flat and flatter, fast and faster. Ajmal has been forced to use his energies at containment rather than striking wickets'

According to this he was used to contain. I cannot really commit as i did miss parts of every match

[Runner Up]

Dropped for only one match and we are jumping to conclusion. Dropping him from the last match might not be only his decision. May be Coach wanted some experiment which didn't work. He is our main bowler and great asset for all formats.

[Dolphins]

After ruining our batsmen, Misbah is trying to ruin our bowlers. He seems to be a cancer for the whole team.

[Kray_jackson7]

Originally Posted by Runner Up Dropped for only one match and we are jumping to conclusion. Dropping him from the last match might not be only his decision. May be Coach wanted some experiment which didn't work. He is our main bowler and great asset for all formats.

The OP is not talking about ajmal being dropped, he is talking about how he is being used. Which would include field settings, over settings, spells and maybe rough instructions on what to do

[Bullet Drive]

Your completely right. Misbah is making Ajmal bowl all his overs in the PP hence Ajmal bowling on the pads giving easy singles instead of taking wickets!

[Kray_jackson7]

This could just be being blown out of proportion. Perhaps just a off series for ajmal with the ball.

[Runner Up]

Originally Posted by Kray_jackson7 The OP is not talking about ajmal being dropped, he is talking about how he is being used. Which would include field settings, over settings, spells and maybe rough instructions on what to do

Thanks. I should have read the contents too.

[Kray_jackson7]

Originally Posted by Runner Up Thanks. I should have read the contents too.

No problem

[Statsman]

Thanks Kray, BD, PCNF and others for explaining what I meant.

[Bilal7]

Misbah is not trying to make Ajmal look good, he is trying to make Pakistan win and can use his best bowler during the powerplay overs.

Also like some posters mentioned, Misbah supported Ajmal a lot and Ajmal verifies that.

Also it's not like Ajmal isn''t a top ODI bowler.

[Ironcat]

Ajmal in ODIs with Misbah as captain: 26 matches, 45 wickets @ 20.53

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

Ajmal in ODIs without Misbah as captain: 42 matches, 54 wickets @ 28.03

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

End of thread.

[wrongun]

I don't think changing your style slightly for ODI is nescessarily going to harm a bowler.

Warne played alot of ODI cricket, where he had to bowl different lines and slightly tighter etc but it never affected his test bowling that I could see.

Murali also was able to adapt to both formats. Hopefully Ajmal can do the same.

[waqar_ahmad]

I agree with the OP to a certain extent. Ajmal should be used to pick up wickets, not restrict runs.

But Ajmal is in a different class altogether. Bhajji was a crap a bowler, who had a few good games on dusty sharp turners

[LegCutter]

Originally Posted by Ironcat Ajmal in ODIs with Misbah as captain: 26 matches, 45 wickets @ 20.53 http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/eng...;type=allround Ajmal in ODIs without Misbah as captain: 42 matches, 54 wickets @ 28.03 http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/eng...;type=allround End of thread.

OP = Pwned

Thread closed.

[Lethalweapon]

Originally Posted by waqar_ahmad I agree with the OP to a certain extent. Ajmal should be used to pick up wickets, not restrict runs. But Ajmal is in a different class altogether. Bhajji was a crap a bowler, who had a few good games on dusty sharp turners

that is far from facts.
Harby relies on bounce not turn.
He had a great SA tour , will Ajmal match or even better Harby's performance there in 2010-11?
(India DOES NOT PREPARE dustbowls since Ganguly era ended - i.e. last 8 years)
p.s.Harby is crap now.

[withlovefrom vizag]

Ajmal is a typical pakistani orthodox spinner while harbhajan is a typical arrogant guy......
yeah,he is arrogant,he is not learning from his mistakes.
And @ OP,MSD didnt ruin him.......

[farazaidi]

Ajmal has always been an attacking spinner, those who think Misbah made Ajmal who he is today need to check his career stats. He was our premier ODI bowler when YK was incharge and had already broken into the Test team too, yes his rise as a test specialist took place in Misbah's time but to label his achievements on Misbah would be silly.

As for using him, only thing I can think of is that round the wicket angle, but Ajmal himself feel very comfortable with that. Initially he did objected it a few times during test matches but it has worked for him many times and also stems the run flow. It sounds negative but Ajmal has actually many wickets from round the wicket angle, he just over did it against SL. Also when Mahela was picking him well with the sweep shot, he should've reverted back to over the stumps line.