"oh no you can't open with a keeper"

[161]

That was the response I got last time I made a "Why don't we just open with Kamran in Tests" thread.

Although there is of course some logic in not opening with a tired keeper ...

We have a special situation here in Pak cricket ...and that is the fact that our openers suck !!

Couple that with the fact that Kamran seems to do much better with the bat as on opener compared to what he does down the order ... then it should be a no brainer that Kamran opens tests for us.

By doing so we will also be able to play an extra middle order batsmen or all-rounder.

As for getting rid of the other opener .. I propose we move Malik back up to Test opener. IMO he just doesn't have the mindset of test middle order bat .. his agressive nature is much more suited to opening.

So there you have it - Test opening problem solved by having Kamran and Malik open .. which in turn also frees up two middle order spots for upcoming batsmen or all-rounders.

[zaf1986]

I disagree. Kamran is much better down the order...39/6. Nuff said.

If Kamran and Malik open outside Asia, it'll be 0/2 and it will need Younus and Yousuf to save the day again.

[161]

Also the same goes with ODIs ...

Kamran should open ... however Malik is a valuable middle order ODI bat .. so we should go with a specialist for the second ODI opener spot and keep Malik in the middle.

[161]

Originally Posted by zaf1986 I disagree. Kamran is much better down the order...39/6. Nuff said. If Kamran and Malik open outside Asia, it'll be 0/2 and it will need Younus and Yousuf to save the day again.

gawd !!!

that was just one innings .. what has he done at the bottom since then ?

he is a much better opener.

[161]

Originally Posted by zaf1986 I disagree. Kamran is much better down the order...39/6. Nuff said. If Kamran and Malik open outside Asia, it'll be 0/2 and it will need Younus and Yousuf to save the day again.

and btw it's already 0/2 with our current openers ...

why not move these two up since they do better at the top .. and at the same time open up two more middle order spots for an asim kamal, fawad alam, or khurram manzoor ??

[WasimG]

How about Kamran plays as an opener and fields at the fine leg. He's good enough to be in the team as a batsman then let him be a batsman. In the meanwhile get Sarfraz Ahmed to keep.

[zaf1986]

Isn't Khurram Manzoor an opener?

I don't think they do better at the top outside Asia. We need a solution not just replacing failures with failures. Taufeeq needs to be brought back.

[zaf1986]

Originally Posted by WasimG How about Kamran plays as an opener and fields at the fine leg. He's good enough to be in the team as a batsman then let him be a batsman. In the meanwhile get Sarfraz Ahmed to keep.

Is an average of 30 good enough for a specialist bat? I don't think so...

[161]

Originally Posted by zaf1986 Is an average of 30 good enough for a specialist bat? I don't think so...

what have the rest of our openers been averaging recently ?

[161]

Originally Posted by WasimG How about Kamran plays as an opener and fields at the fine leg. He's good enough to be in the team as a batsman then let him be a batsman. In the meanwhile get Sarfraz Ahmed to keep.

Kamran is a talented opener .. more so than nervous Butt, fisherman Hameed and Farhat and Mr T20 Hafeez !!

[zaf1986]

Originally Posted by kashif77 what have the rest of our openers been averaging recently ?

I don't get your argument - replace crap with crap?

[161]

Originally Posted by zaf1986 I don't get your argument - replace crap with crap?

Kamran isn't crap as opener --> did u happen to catch the last two tests ?

Did you happen to see those 3 centuries vs England ?

And if you don't think he can open outside of Pakistan --> what of his magnificent opening century in Australia ?

[WasimG]

Originally Posted by kashif77 Kamran is a talented opener .. more so than nervous Butt, fisherman Hameed and Farhat and Mr T20 Hafeez !!

Take a deep breath man. And when did I say he's not a good enough batsman? I just said he should play as a batsman not a keeper.

[zaf1986]

Originally Posted by kashif77 Kamran isn't crap as opener --> did u happen to catch the last two tests ? Did you happen to see those 3 centuries vs England ? And if you don't think he can open outside of Pakistan --> what of his magnificent opening century in Australia ?

Two tests is the subcontinent.

All Test centuries down the order at 8.

Hundreds against England in Pakistan on batting beauties.

A good hundred opening against a third rate WI attack on one of the best batting pitches in Australia, after which he could barely score a run.

Lets put it all in perspective shall we.

[161]

Originally Posted by WasimG Take a deep breath man. And when did I say he's not a good enough batsman? I just said he should play as a batsman not a keeper.

soz .. i was talking to the other guy - not u.

[zaf1986]

I don't get why you think I'm supporting the current openers - because I'm not. But Kamran being better than them isn't really saying much.

[161]

Originally Posted by zaf1986 Two tests is the subcontinent. All Test centuries down the order at 8. Hundreds against England in Pakistan on batting beauties. A good hundred opening against a third rate WI attack on one of the best batting pitches in Australia, after which he could barely score a run. Lets put it all in perspective shall we.

and in all that time how many opening centuries do we have from the rest of our openers combined ?

the few times kamran has opened he's done quite well.

[161]

Originally Posted by zaf1986 I don't get why you think I'm supporting the current openers - because I'm not. But Kamran being better than them isn't really saying much.

oh i c .. u want danish and asif to open instead ?

[zaf1986]

You're getting tiresome. The current openers are *****. Kamran is a little better than them - on Asian tracks. Even Afridi destroys bowling attacks on Asian tracks opening the innings. We need openers who can bat in all conditions and get runs.

[zaf1986]

Originally Posted by kashif77 oh i c .. u want danish and asif to open instead ?

They'd probably do better than our current lot. Asif played a really good shot for four in the 2020 final

[the true passionist]

Originally Posted by kashif77 gawd !!! that was just one innings .. what has he done at the bottom since then ? he is a much better opener.

He helped save the mohali test from down the order..hence it was not one innings.

But i understand your point in playing him as the opener when we dont have other decent option although i am not convinced with the idea.

We can definitely give him a run as the opener in the series that we play in Asia an see how things go, and move from there since there isn't a huge line of openers waiting in the ranks.

[deviously~fading~away]

Originally Posted by zaf1986 I disagree. Kamran is much better down the order...39/6. Nuff said. If Kamran and Malik open outside Asia, it'll be 0/2 and it will need Younus and Yousuf to save the day again.

as if that wouldn't be the case with the other openers

[161]

Originally Posted by deviously~fading~away as if that wouldn't be the case with the other openers

i don't get what this zaf guy is proposing .. he is saying our current openers suck but kamran sucks a little less .. hence we do nothing ?

[161]

Originally Posted by the true passionist He helped save the mohali test from down the order..hence it was not one innings. But i understand your point in playing him as the opener when we dont have other decent option although i am not convinced with the idea. We can definitely give him a run as the opener in the series that we play in Asia an see how things go, and move from there since there isn't a huge line of openers waiting in the ranks.

right ... he more then the rest of our openers deserves an extended run.

and by doing that we can also give an extended run to another middle order batsmen like fawad, kamal, misbah etc..

[kablooee87]

I must say I was very impressed with Kamran as an opener against South Africa. Very positive.



Seriously though. I'll take a quick 50 from Kamran as an opener than a slow 15 from one of the openers. Plus, I think Salman Butt seems to benefit from having Akmal at the other end.

[pakistanbest]

kamran and malik for test openers

kamran and nazir for odi openers hafeez in odi middle order

but does akmal want to open on a regular basis in test however guys till butt is v-c we will have to partner him wid akmal sad bit hey when butt has his v-c gone whats gone happn then happy times

[161]

Originally Posted by pakistanbest kamran and malik for test openers kamran and nazir for odi openers hafeez in odi middle order but does akmal want to open on a regular basis in test however guys till butt is v-c we will have to partner him wid akmal sad bit hey when butt has his v-c gone whats gone happn then happy times

i have a feeling butts vc will be ending soon .. we will never go to india with such an out of form opener.

[6hitter]

Imran Nazir and Kamran Akmal should open up the innings.

[Zechariah]

kashif ya that wont be a bad idea actually

Akmal
Nazir
Younis
Moyo
Malik
Misbah
Afridi
Hafeez
Akhtar
Gul
Asif

Pretty powerful lineup as it frees up places at the Bottom!

[INZItheman]

oh ffs why cant peeps get over the fact that kamran is *****. He got a few half centuries on flat wickets and now we want him as an opener-he has been tried and tested-once he gets on to a half decent pitch for bowling against anyone the results is inevitable.

[Boi]

i think some of u guys are being too harsh u lot never know if he opens the batting out of asia he mighrt score runs he hasnt been given an oppitunity some people saying oh he scored centuries or half centuries opening in sub continent u never know he might come good out a asia aso i agree if our specialist openers are not playing well give akmal a chance

[harrybeg]

Kamran should open , his future is getting ruined by him batting in a lower place

if he wants to be popular etc He should open . I think his average is much better at opening .

[TaZ]

1Akmal
2Butt
3Younis
4Moyo
5Malik
6Misbah
7Afridi
8Tanvir/Shoaib
9Gul
10Asif
11Kaneria

TaZ

[zaf1986]

Originally Posted by kashif77 i don't get what this zaf guy is proposing .. he is saying our current openers suck but kamran sucks a little less .. hence we do nothing ?

Hence we get good openers...it's really simple.

[PlanetPakistan]

Kashif,

Kamran struggles against the swinging ball and the white ball swings quite a bit in the first 5 or 6 overs so he can't be considered an option.
Its about time for one of the 3 senior batsmen to open(Malik, Yousuf or Younis). I personally would like to open with Yasir and Younis.

[safehands46]

it doesnt change the fact he lost the series by dropping kallis twice. Unless he starts scoring centuries to compensate for his dropped catches he will continue to hinder the team.

[INZItheman]

hmm....same peeps who were saying he should be dropped and they have had enough of him.....interesting....

[mike89]

while u lot are at it why dont u make him vc or even c lol

[Vegitto1]

Play Kamaran only as a Bat..his keeping sucks and is limiting our spin bowlers who do not have the confidence in the keeper anymore

[down4whatever]

Kamran is the reason Afridi stopped bowling his quicker ones.

[sehsan]

Kami is not one of those batsman who can come and smack the ball right away. He needs time and that is why it is very important for paksitan to play him as an opener and give him consistent chances. I think he and salman can do a good job for pakistan if given confidence and a long consective run.


I have gathered some of his stats from 9th Sept 03

average of 15 in 28 matches as an lower order batsman

26 0 41 14 10 5 6 24 24 20 9 24 18 0 10 4 20 16 1 11 0 27 15 51 38 2




avearage of 26 in 27 games as a top order batsman

Below are his scores when he open or came at one down. Most of the time, he got the start.He need to concentrate little more. I am sure he can be more then handy on the top order.

5 124 2 19 17 4 12 17 22 5 102 109 18 11 25 14 34 3 25 5 22 23 56 13 6 0 3



What do you guys think?

[Lightning]

I like him as opener, especially at ODI level. Allows Pak to play an extra bat lower down or go with an extra bowler. So essentially, he gives the team a balance. Good choice this kami boy at the top.

[Afridi_Fan]

I would have loved to make a comment only If I can understand all thos provided stats

In between Kami shud play as an opner

[Saqlain_doosra]

There is aleady a thread on kamran akmal and his opening and keeping.

[nosferatu372]

While it may be true that he avgs more when he opens, an avg of 26 is still very low. Also he is too inconsistent for my liking. He has scored two or three hundreds but nothing apart from that. If he continues opening, we will find ourselves 10-1/2 more often then not (of course that is what we find ourselves anyway)

[Amjid Javed]

Akmal as an opener is a decent idea but asking lad to keep and open is a very tough job.

Apart from alec stewart in tests i can think of to many who have done both jobs with sucsess!

[safehands46]

Originally Posted by Amjid Javed Akmal as an opener is a decent idea but asking lad to keep and open is a very tough job. Apart from alec stewart in tests i can think of to many who have done both jobs with sucsess!

actually if one recalls the 1998 ashes. when england got killed. he had to give up the gloves to keep his captaincy.

[shahidrazzaq]

LOLZ! So many critics.....I say you just leave the Pakistani openers alone. Wether its Nazir and Akmal or Nazir and Butt or Hafeez in Butt it doesn't matter. Pakistan just does it to get them experience. Okay, heres the deal....

1st ODI: Nazir and Hafeez if playing, otherwise Akmal

2nd ODI: Nazir and Butt

3rd ODI: Nazir and anyone who can open!

4th ODI: Nazir and Afridi, Just throw him out there to bat and kick Salman or Hafeez, (which ever one) and get Hameed for one-down....

5th ODI: As long as series is 3-1 or 4-0, throw anyone out there to bat! EVEN IF IT IS UMAR GUL OR DANISH KANERIA!

[shahidrazzaq]

Between these 5 One-Day Internationals, I wanna see some experience from our openers...here is the list...

Nazir: Just a bit-0ff balance from I'm average TO I will bat everytime.
Hafeez: Needs to make his average higher than 25.41 (or just plain 25) to make it look like he's experienced and he is able to make a century.
Butt: Just needs to get set in the match then he'll start playing good.
Akmal: Needs to be comfortable with his placement in the order and gets some runs.

[sehsan]

Originally Posted by Amjid Javed Akmal as an opener is a decent idea but asking lad to keep and open is a very tough job. Apart from alec stewart in tests i can think of to many who have done both jobs with sucsess!

I am definetly not favouring him having open in test. But certainly he is very good option in onedays

[161]

BUMP !!


surely akmal could have done better then the crap we witnessed today.

[Amir]

Have to agree with Kashif there somewhat. Nazir had to attack, so I had no qualms. However, then again doing better than Hafeez does not mean much.

[161]

and just to recount ...

kamran scored more then nazir, hafeez and yk combined today.

[PlanetPakistan]

Originally Posted by PlanetPakistan Kashif, Kamran struggles against the swinging ball and the white ball swings quite a bit in the first 5 or 6 overs so he can't be considered an option. Its about time for one of the 3 senior batsmen to open(Malik, Yousuf or Younis). I personally would like to open with Yasir and Younis.

Just wanted to repeat that.

[Easa]

In ODI's, he's a good choice but keeping and opening the batting in Test matches is a whole different story. I wouldn't want him to keep for a 120+ overs and then come out and face the new ball.

In ODI's, I think he could be a good choice.