PakPassion Exclusive: Temperament Of Young Batsmen Worries Zaheer Abbas

[MIG]

In an era where graft was favored over grace, one Pakistani batsman rose above it all to leave an indelible mark. The blade within his hands was the baton of an orchestra conductor. Zaheer Abbas – fondly remembered as the Asian Bradman – was one of only a few batsmen of his era to score a hundred first class hundreds. He had a self-proclaimed love of breaking records, and did so with the utmost of style and elegance.

With a pedigree of such distinction, it is no surprise that today, Zaheer Abbas is full of frustration at what he deems is the lack staying power amongst the current crop of Pakistani batsmen.

Pakistani batsmen have more often than not struggled to deliver in recent times. Centuries have been hard to come by, with not a single batsman reaching the triple figure mark on the entire summer tour of England last year, and with only stalwart Younis Khan having made a Test century in recent times. In a recent interview with PakPassion.net, the maestro expressed his clear displeasure with the lack of application by batsmen.

“I don’t think the batsmen have that temperament to stay at the wicket for a long time, and somebody has to teach them. To score a century you have to have a lot of patience, to stay at the wicket for a long long time. To complete a century you need to stay at the wicket for at least three and a half hours.”

The patience to play big innings is the kind of mindset that Zaheer had cultivated in his distinguished career as Pakistan’s premier batsman. A study of Zaheer’s batting technique would serve as a perfect lesson for players, especially those who struggle to knuckle down and apply themselves. Zaheer for his part, is no doubt about the priceless value of a batsman who is a run accumulator as opposed to one who plays a shot filled “flashy”, yet brief innings.

“There is no value in sitting in the dressing room but you have a lot of value when at the crease such a player”

In Zaheer’s universe, where the premium on one’s wicket is supreme, such a player can only be termed a crowd entertainer and no more – liability and not an asset. This is exactly the same reason why he is not too impressed with the antics of the so called young guns either. He singles out Asad Shafiq’s knock in the Semi Finals of the World cup as an example.

“The way he got out against India – a straightforward ball that he was trying to cut – well if you can do well in a big match, then nothing like it but he didn’t!”

This is just one example of the lack of big match temperament amongst youngsters that irks Zaheer and something which should set warning bells ringing amongst Pakistani planners.

Can big match temperament be instilled into youngsters or bad habits ironed out by expert coaching? Zaheer feels that Pakistani coaching is too orientated towards bowling excellence with little or no bias towards batting. Such a situation cries out for expert batting help and as a loyal servant of the National game, there is no one better qualified than Zaheer - but is he ready for this assignment - "of course" is the unambiguous reply!

The Pakistan Cricket Board should take heed - with the bowlers having the support of heavyweights of the yesteryears, who better to teach the Pakistani batsmen in the all important skill of building an innings than potentially the most patient of them all?

[MIG]

PPs legends season continues with a frank conversation with Zaheer Abbas about the past, present and future of Pakistani cricket.

The full interview will be published shortly and credit goes to genghis81 and AZ for the interview and writing this up for our pleasure.

Our heartfelt thanks to the maestro himself for making the time to speak to us

[Savak]

Hmm, Imran Khan considered Zaheer Abbass as anything but a big match player. Always felt Zaheer never delivered under pressure unlike Miandad.

[MIG]

True - he was never Asif Iqbal or Miandad - men of crisis but niether was Majid Khan for that matter - however, all of these people formed the core of the team of those days.

Zaheer was sheer class.

[zaid65]

Originally Posted by Savak Hmm, Imran Khan considered Zaheer Abbass as anything but a big match player. Always felt Zaheer never delivered under pressure unlike Miandad.

He single handedly destroy the career of Bishen Singh Bedi and Parsana. He was a run machine against India in the home series where he scored over 500 runs in 3 test matches. He played one of the best inning by any Pakistani on English soil (scored 274 runs at Edgbeston ), his inning against WI in the semi final of 1979 against Croft, Holding, Garner where he score 93 was pure class and elegance.

He still has the best one day average by any Pakistani batsman ( if I remember correctly).

These are just few memories of Z on top of my head.

[AZ]

100 FC tons speaks for itself! the man knew how to make it count.

not just temperament I would say they don't have the gameplan even to reach the magical mark.

couple of overs of tight bowling and you can sense that it's going to be over soon.

[786warrior]

so what's he doing about it?????

[asian123]

wat about azhar ali and misbah... they have solid temperament and will make a century soooon

[PakistanCricketForever!]

I think azhar Ali has the temperament to score big but just needs to get over the hurdle of scoring the first century

[Dr Khan]

Zaheer was highly gifted but fails to understand that cricket has changed since his time.

[kkmix]

Singles out Asad . way to boost the morale of a youngster.

[Saad Hasan]

Zaheer, aka simply "Z" in the cricketing circle was the best player of spin ever...his complete mastery of the bowler of the caliber of Underwood and the Indian spin quartet lends itself to his stature...

He cannot be simply dismissed as a non-performer...he still remains and will probably be the solitary Asian ever with 100 first class hundreds...

[farz88]

Originally Posted by Dr Khan Zaheer was highly gifted but fails to understand that cricket has changed since his time.

Yes we need team of Afridis not Zaheer Abbas or Miadads. ....Right.

Especially in tests and ODIs you need temperament. But that doesn't mean batting like misbah.

[Saj]

Whatever the era, what Z is saying is absolutely right.

Patience is a key ingredient in a batsman's armoury.

I look at the likes of Taufeeq Umar, Misbah ul Haq, Younus Khan, Asad Shafiq and Azhar Ali and see them as "proper" test batsmen. Players who can bat all day if required and don't feel the need to have a rush of blood.

If Umar Akmal wants to be an integral part of the Pakistan test side, then he needs to look at his approach to test cricket as for me, his batting is a bit too "flash" and bowlers feel that its only a matter of time before he gets himself out.

[MR__KHAN__JI]

Originally Posted by Saj If Umar Akmal wants to be an integral part of the Pakistan test side, then he needs to look at his approach to test cricket as for me, his batting is a bit too "flash" and bowlers feel that its only a matter of time before he gets himself out.

Thats what they said about Inzi!

[Saj]

Originally Posted by MR__KHAN__JI Thats what they said about Inzi!

No don't agree.

Inzi was a totally different type of player to what Umar Akmal is at the moment.

There was a certain calmness about Inzi's batting and he was well known in domestic cricket circles for his responsible and calm approach when he was playing for the powerful UBL side.

With Umar it's all a bit too frantic and risky.

[MR__KHAN__JI]

Originally Posted by Saj No don't agree. Inzi was a totally different type of player to what Umar Akmal is at the moment. There was a certain calmness about Inzi's batting and he was well known in domestic cricket circles for his responsible and calm approach when he was playing for the powerful UBL side. With Umar it's all a bit too frantic and risky.

When Inzi first came onto the scene he was a flashy player....

I recently saw a few of his early innings and he played with as much risk as Umar Akmal did - dancing down the track and hitting sixes...

He however got guided (whilst he played in the team) and then reduced the number of shots he played that carried the most risk...

He would play a couple risky shots to get the field back and then play the shots with less risk.

Thats the bit that Umar Akmal needs to learn..... he will learn that better if he in the team rather than out.

He has so many shots and looks so much more natural when batting compared to anyone else in the team.

THIS MATCH shows what he is capable of.... (was probably getting some good guidance)

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/423778.html

Look at the contrast in Innings 1 versus Innings 2 - also look at the bowling attack NZ had.

Further...

He carried the batting whilst he was in the side... (and that as a 19/20 year old)

Below are the contributions of ALL PAK players whilst UMAR was in the team...

Ie same conditions... same bowling... same everything....

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

UMAR AKMAL tops the averages... (bar YK who played one game)

Other batsman are now filling their boots playing on flat tracks.... when Umar Akmal was playing in New Zealand, Australia and England.

[Striver]

Zaheer was a class as my father has stated it on numerous times......even though he never watches cricket..... along Zaheer he mentions Waseem Bari...... said when these guys were at crease we knew that they will make the oppositions suffer....

the today's fans ask yourself..... do you ever get the similar feeling when one of the current bunch are at the crease? do you ever feel with great certainty that this player will take us into winning position?

i don't think so...... as AZ highlight above...... few maiden overs..... and we know someone is going to get out any moment now.....

confidence has gone especially since Inzi left and Yousuf lost form ..

so comparing umar and asad to Inzi and Yousuf at this stage is injustice to the renowned masters

[MR__KHAN__JI]

Originally Posted by Striver so comparing umar and asad to Inzi and Yousuf at this stage is injustice to the renowned masters

Agree with everything else you have said but this....

I dont think anyone can compare the youngsters to the legends... they are not fit to tie their shoelaces...

BUT

You have to be able to analogise from history to look at how to treat and devlop players so we can benefit from another Inzi and Moyo like career!

[MIG]

Lets see if any of the Test batsmen can prove Zaheer wrong!

[Amjid Javed]

I think Current test line up does have batsmen who are prepared to graft and play long inns, The worry with most young batsmen barring Azhar Ali at times is they dont know how to construct an Inns or contain a ruthless streak to score big runs!

[Accumulator]

Speaking of young batsmen, we have 4 guys who are playing regularly.. Azhar, Asad, Umar and Ahmed. Temperament-wise, Azhar and asad are too good while temperament is the only thing lacking in Ahmed and Umar.
Which other young batsmen hav temperament problems? apart from these 4, we hav Manzoor and Fawad waiting in the wings.. both of them lack a few things but they are surely not short on temperament!!

[munna_]

inzi had the likes of imran khan, salim malik, miandad to guide him in his batting!
for akmal there is no one actually, moyo, yk, and misbah so far have been busy in finding a stable position in the side for almost 2 years now...

[cricket_coach]

He is right... Absolutely.... agree 100%. temperament is lacking. not the quality and hence I term them all good T20 players.

[Accumulator]

Originally Posted by cricket_coach He is right... Absolutely.... agree 100%. temperament is lacking. not the quality and hence I term them all good T20 players.

Which young batsmen are lacking in temperament, barring Ahmed and Umar? Name plz.
Asad and Azhar are surely not t20 players, are they?

[cricket_coach]

Originally Posted by Accumulator Which young batsmen are lacking in temperament, barring Ahmed and Umar? Name plz. Asad and Azhar are surely not t20 players, are they?

Too early to say. Last time people started jumping over me for the same.... Someone scoring at slow rate doesnt makes him unfit for twenty twenty game. Its how he leaves the ball.

[MR__KHAN__JI]

Originally Posted by munna_ inzi had the likes of imran khan, salim malik, miandad to guide him in his batting! for akmal there is no one actually, moyo, yk, and misbah so far have been busy in finding a stable position in the side for almost 2 years now...

my fear is that they will all be retired when Umar gets in the team...