Shaftab Khalid

[Bazza]

Aftab Khalid

Young Worcs off spinner, apparently short listed for the academy this winter. I was wondering what Chris Hinton can tell us about him?

Hasn't played much cricket but according to the commentators he has a wrong un, ala Murali/Saqlain!

 

[SpaceMonkey]

well as a Worcestershire supporter i suppose i could answer a few

First off his name is Shaftab Khalid, so you only missed 2 letters off

He was basically born in pakistan but moved to england at a young age, his hero is Saqlian (as you'd easily tell by the fact his action is almost identicle).
He spins the ball alot and has a brillient 'mystery' ball.
But the thing that lets him down is his accuracy, he goes for alot of runs atm just because he cant bowl 2 balls on the same spot.
But he's only 20 and he's being picked for the acadamy more on potential than what he has done in the past.
He's found games for worcestershire hard with Batty doing so well, but with a stint at the acadamy and maybe Batty playing some tests next year he may well get the games he needs.

 

[marc71178]

Perhaps he could bowl a flatter delivery to keep runs down!

 

[SpaceMonkey]

hehe
I could point out that Batty has got where he is today cos he floats the ball up more than any other english spinner ive seen this season

 

[luckyeddie]

The Shaftab guy was on the telly a couple of days ago - he got a bit of tap but he was prepared to give the ball a bit of flight.

 

[Bazza]

Yes Eddie that's what made me ask about him. Still haven't heard form Chris?

 

[chris.hinton]

He is class but bowled poor on Tuesday

 

[marc71178]

He has the potential to be class Chris.

If he were class now, he'd be playing regularly for county or even country.

 

[lord_of_darkness]

yer marcs on the spot..

Anyway im sure he will change seeing hes attending academy etc..

Anyway at the main English academy who are the employed coaches..? eg the key figures

 

[Rik]

Anyway im sure he will change seeing hes attending academy etc..

Matthew Wood, Ian Bell etc. would not agree entirely with that statement...

 

[lord_of_darkness]

Matthew Wood, Ian Bell etc. would not agree entirely with that statement...

yea? could they be linked to some other fault?

 

[marc71178]

Matthew Wood, Ian Bell etc. would not agree entirely with that statement...

2nd seasons are historically more difficult - and I would say that in some ways the Academy has helped Bell - he worked a lot on bowling when out there, and is beginning to put that into use in County Cricket - always a handy thing to be able to do, fill in a few overs.

 

[Rik]

2nd seasons are historically more difficult - and I would say that in some ways the Academy has helped Bell - he worked a lot on bowling when out there, and is beginning to put that into use in County Cricket - always a handy thing to be able to do, fill in a few overs.

Yes, but what I was getting at was that going to the academy does not immediately mean your going to get better. If Khalid can't bowl 2 balls in the same place it's because of 2 reasons:

1. He has hardly any co-ordination
2. He tries too much and hasn't sat down and tried to bowl the ball in the right place consistantly.

The academy can help him in the 2nd respect. But you should not immediately think it will improve the player, however much help they are given, it's up to the player. Another example is Graeme Swann, very talented all-rounder yet he's fallen away since he went to the Academy, although his slump really started when he came back from South Africa.

 

[marc71178]

I think those that go to the Academy with the right attitude will get better...

 

[Neil Pickup]

Anyway at the main English academy who are the employed coaches..? eg the key figures

Troy Cooley is the bowling coach, not sure about the others.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

2nd seasons are historically more difficult

Sophomore curse.

 

[Bazza]

Is that the same Graeme Swann who has 26 wickets at 23 this season Rik?

Also, isn't Rod Marsh overseeing the Academy?

 

[Rik]

Is that the same Graeme Swann who has 26 wickets at 23 this season Rik?

Also, isn't Rod Marsh overseeing the Academy?

Indeed it is the same Graeme Swann, but remember he took 7 for barely anything on a pitch that looked more like the moon than anything else. He's been helped by the Northants pitch no end by all reports. It's just a case of the stats not showing the full story. Remember how much he struggled last year?

 

[Bazza]

Yeah 31 wickets at 28. Not really struggling IMO. And he's still only 24.

 

[marc71178]

He's been helped by the Northants pitch no end by all reports. It's just a case of the stats not showing the full story. Remember how much he struggled last year?

I guess those reasons are also why no Brown in the squad.