Pakistan’s Top batsmen (part 2)
Zaheer Abbas
Previously, only Hanif Mohammad from Pakistan was known for his batting credentials, across the borders. Pakistan was known for producing technically sound batsman, but out of the blue an artist emerged in the form of Zaheer Abbas.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zaheer-Abbas-c98435 is the 2nd great batsman to emerge from a country where cricket is more than a sport. Moreover, he was an artist on show, and a craftsman at work. Every innings that he played was pleasing to watch. An elegant batsman, when in full
flow, he was a sight watch. He played strokes all-around the wicket, but mainly beside the wicket. His off-side play was like that of an artist, painting a picture. Put all your fielders on the off-side, and Zaheer would find a way to the boundary like a tailor
threads a needle.
His Bradmanesque appetite to score big runs earned him the name, “Asian Bradman”. There were so many batting greats around in his days, but none of those were matched by the Australian legend Don Bradman.
Zaheer has an exceptional Test career, considering the fact that he played in an era when fast bowlers were at their zenith. Overall, he played 78 Test matches and scored 5062 runs at an average of 44 with the best of 274. In his hunt of 5062 runs, he scored
12 Test centuries with 4 double hundreds.
At home venues, Zaheer has fared quite well. He has made 36 Test appearances, gathering 2444 runs at an impressive average of 58 with the best of 235. His tally of 2444 runs includes 8 centuries with 2 doubles.
Outside http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, his stats suffered a bit due to his free flowing batting style. He played 42 Test matches and gathered 2618 runs at an average of 36 with the best of 274. In his quest for runs, he scored 4 centuries, including 2 doubles.
The Asian Bradman excelled more in the shorter versions of the game. As a batsman, he is still 2nd on the list of all-time ICC, ODI rankings. As a result he has a brilliant ODI record. In ODIs, he has featured in 62 matches.
Overall, he has scored 2572 runs at an impressive average of 47 with the best of 123. In pursuit of his 2572 runs, he has scored 7 centuries. His average of 47 in ODIs is still the best average for a Pakistani batsman who has, at least, played 50 matches
or more.
He is the only Asian to score 100 first-class centuries. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Geoffrey-Boycott-c58776 and Zaheer Abbas are the only players to score their 100th first-class ton in a Test match. Moreover, Asian Bradman is the first Pakistani to score a double century on English soil.
His innings of 274 at Birmingham in 1971 away series is still the fifth highest individual score by a Pakistani batsman.
Later on, his statistics dipped a bit, as age was catching up as his eye sight weakened and his reflexes deteriorated. The runs machine still remains one of the all-time great batsmen Pakistan has ever produced.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Javed-Miandad-c66580
Javed Miandad ranks up as the third best batsman in the history of Pakistan. Bowlers around the world found him to be one of the gutsiest and toughest batsmen to remove from the pitch.
Despite his immense batting talent, he knew how to counter different bowling attacks in different bowling conditions. He was a master of handling tough situations. When the going gets tough it was Miandad who got going. Give him any pressure cooker situation
against any quality opposition and he would win you a match out of nowhere.
As a batsman, he is one of a kind. He wasn’t in the same class as, Sunil Gavaskar and Hanif Mohammad, but he made his own name and style. The maestro can play shots all-around the cricket pitch, considering the fact the he had an un-orthodox technique. His
reverse sweep and his cut shot through the point area were his trade mark shots.
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