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His career thoughout can be marked as a typical Pakistani Test players wherein he's played only 25 Tests in a span of 10 years, been brought back and then dumped once again to the jungle that is domestic cricket. Who knows how long he can continue, but for now enjoy the Misbah renaissance.
by Saj Sadiq
24 May 2011
When I first saw Misbah ul Haq bat I wasn't impressed. The technique seemed unorthodox and rigid and I didn't think he had in him what was required to be a success in international cricket against top class bowlers.
His career thoughout can be marked as a typical Pakistani test player wherein he's played only 25 tests in a span of 10 years, been brought back and then dumped once again to the jungle that is domestic cricket. Comebacks a plenty, with a few discards in there for good measure, it was all the fun of the fair.
Making his test debut in 2001 in Auckland, Misbah scored 28 runs, a score that remained his highest score in his first eleven innings.
Having featured in ten test innings, Misbah was banished to the wilderness for a span of over four years before he was recalled in October 2007 against South Africa in Pakistan. Misbah scored 23, 23 and 47 and was selected for the tour of India
The tour of India of late 2007 established Misbah in the test side and he proved that he had the aptitude for test cricket. Misbah scored 464 runs in India in only six innings, with a highest score of 161 not out in Kolkata.
Misbah followed the succesful tour of India with a decent home series against Sri Lanka.
However the winter of 2009 and early 2010 proved to be a struggle for Misbah as he managed only one half century against New Zealand and Australia in eight innings.
The struggles of Oceania meant that Misbah was dropped for the tour of England in 2010, a tour that was a total disaster in more ways than one. Misbah once again contemplated his future and whether he would play for Pakistan ever again.
However as "luck would have it", an opportunity arose for Misbah after Pakistan's tour of England and since his recall and promotion to skipper he has not looked back. In eleven innings since being appointed captain, Misbah has scored eight half centuries and converted one of those half centuries into a century (St kitts yesterday).
Misbah has provided a stability and assurance in the middle order for Pakistan that was lacking in England last summer and has guided Pakistan more than once from precarious positions.
His calmness at the crease has helped the younger players around him to grow in stature and the opposition certainly see him as the key Pakistani wicket these days.
Now some so called "cricket lovers" point to Misbah's strike rate and his age as numbers that "go against him". Personally I prefer to look at the numbers that matter, which are the runs scored and the wins obtained. Those that worry about strike rates ahead of wins, should stick to the quick fix of pyjama cricket.
A drawn series against South Africa, a win away in New Zealand were great achievments. However I'm sure that Misbah will be disappointed that Pakistan could not finally break the hoodoo of a test series win in the Caribbean and instead they come away from there with a drawn series.
Who knows how long Misbah can continue, but for now enjoy the Misbah renaissance and lets hope that long may it last.
His career thoughout can be marked as a typical Pakistani test player wherein he's played only 25 tests in a span of 10 years, been brought back and then dumped once again to the jungle that is domestic cricket. Comebacks a plenty, with a few discards in there for good measure, it was all the fun of the fair.
Making his test debut in 2001 in Auckland, Misbah scored 28 runs, a score that remained his highest score in his first eleven innings.
Having featured in ten test innings, Misbah was banished to the wilderness for a span of over four years before he was recalled in October 2007 against South Africa in Pakistan. Misbah scored 23, 23 and 47 and was selected for the tour of India
The tour of India of late 2007 established Misbah in the test side and he proved that he had the aptitude for test cricket. Misbah scored 464 runs in India in only six innings, with a highest score of 161 not out in Kolkata.
Misbah followed the succesful tour of India with a decent home series against Sri Lanka.
However the winter of 2009 and early 2010 proved to be a struggle for Misbah as he managed only one half century against New Zealand and Australia in eight innings.
The struggles of Oceania meant that Misbah was dropped for the tour of England in 2010, a tour that was a total disaster in more ways than one. Misbah once again contemplated his future and whether he would play for Pakistan ever again.
However as "luck would have it", an opportunity arose for Misbah after Pakistan's tour of England and since his recall and promotion to skipper he has not looked back. In eleven innings since being appointed captain, Misbah has scored eight half centuries and converted one of those half centuries into a century (St kitts yesterday).
Misbah has provided a stability and assurance in the middle order for Pakistan that was lacking in England last summer and has guided Pakistan more than once from precarious positions.
His calmness at the crease has helped the younger players around him to grow in stature and the opposition certainly see him as the key Pakistani wicket these days.
Now some so called "cricket lovers" point to Misbah's strike rate and his age as numbers that "go against him". Personally I prefer to look at the numbers that matter, which are the runs scored and the wins obtained. Those that worry about strike rates ahead of wins, should stick to the quick fix of pyjama cricket.
A drawn series against South Africa, a win away in New Zealand were great achievments. However I'm sure that Misbah will be disappointed that Pakistan could not finally break the hoodoo of a test series win in the Caribbean and instead they come away from there with a drawn series.
Who knows how long Misbah can continue, but for now enjoy the Misbah renaissance and lets hope that long may it last.