*Official* Pakistan in England 2020

[vcs]

Why hasn't Fawad played more tests?

Asad Shafiq and Fawad Alam: A tale of intertwined destinies

They were born months apart and come from the same city, but their careers belong in different universes

www.espncricinfo.com

This is a pretty good summary. Not necessarily saying he should have taken Shafiq's spot, but the latter has been strangely untouchable without ever doing much of note.

 

[vcs]

That said, we can't be sure that Alam isn't a domestic bully/myth like Badrinath. He's easily the ugliest batsman I've watched.

 

[aussie tragic]

The Fawad Alam legend grows after a quick google

'No Pakistani batsman ever from any era and of any class has a better first class average than Fawad’s 56.57'

'He recently became the second-fastest to complete 12,000 first class runs. The only batsman to do it quicker than him was the great Mohammad Hanif.'

 

[Uppercut]

That said, we can't be sure that Alam isn't a domestic bully/myth like Badrinath. He's easily the ugliest batsman I've watched.

Check out his test debut though: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...stan-2nd-test-pakistan-tour-of-sri-lanka-2009

Imagine playing that innings on debut, getting dropped 2 matches later, then not playing again for 11 years despite a FC average of 57. When I saw his record I thought he must have been involved in some kind of a scandal I didn't know about.

 

[91Jmay]

That's a great ball, Anderson swinging it late.

 

[vcs]

I don't know why he got dropped back then.. maybe he was a stand-in replacement for someone else back then. Wasn't following them very closely then. He's dominated their FC scene though and people have been calling for him to be given a chance for many years now.

 

[Neptune]

That’s out, what a ball.

 

[nightprowler10]

ffs

 

[morgieb]

Is this the first time England have had a full XI born there in like 40 years?

 

[91Jmay]

Another drop, we are such a bad fielding side. So bunched up together yet again.

 

[Starfighter]

Oh dear...

 

[Neptune]

Oh mate come on. Slips are too close together for ****s sake. Big chance...

 

[MW1304]

I think it was in SA, we looked as good in the field as we had in years.

Back to the norm here, I guess.

 

[a massive zebra]

Warren Beardsley had a 14 year gap from 1912 to 1926. There might be some NZers who played before and after ww2 with very big gaps too.

This might be the longest gap in terms of tests missed, though.

IIRC, John Traicos 22 years is the longest gap between tests. He played for South Africa before their apartheid ban and Zimbabwe upon their admission to Test status.

 

[Uppercut]

Broad and Anderson both look absolutely on it right from the start. When that happens in England it usually means <100ao.

 

[superkingdave]

Seems bizarre that England's attack is led by a 38 year old and 34 year old while 2 of Pakistan's attack are 17 and 20 and yet England's average age is a year and a half younger.

 

[nightprowler10]

Oh mate come on. Slips are too close together for ****s sake. Big chance...

Need more social distancing.

 

[hazsa19]

Broad and Anderson both look absolutely on it right from the start. When that happens in England it usually means <100ao.

They’re playing it pretty well tbf. Will be interesting to see what happens when Woakes and Curran come on.

 

[Woodster]

curran picked because he is the better bowler in england.

My point was that wasn’t Root’s initial explanation it was about the fact he gives us better batting depth. If he said that Curran gives them the best chance of taking 20 wickets on this pitch and in this Test match, then that would have been more acceptable.

 

[wpdavid]

That wicket should cheer Jimmy up a bit, and hopefully we've got our mandatory drop out of our system. fwiw I'm happy enough with the selection. Woakes should be a handful here.