ICCCT2006: SCMODS' assesment of every teams chances

[Sureshot]

230 ODIs by the time he's 26, he's played for more ODI cricket than any England player (Gough with 170ish is the highest iirc) and he's still got a decade left, could get 500.

4 100s and 26 50s.

Away from home he seems to bowl better (Averages under 30 away from Pakistan) and does slightly less with the bat (averages 22.23 with 1 hundred and 5 fifties) that's in 72 overseas ODIs. His hundred being 102 off of 46.

Sorry those stats on CricInfo have confused me.

230 Games (Before today) 118 in neutral venues, 72 away from home leaving only 40 ODIs in Pakistan, that surprised me a little.

Point I'm trying to make is, yes on his day he is fantastic, but he reaches a batting landmark once every 8 (Nearly) ODIs, now as pinchhitter a quick 30 or so is useful, but you'd expect him to go on a bit more.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

I wouldn't say he's got safe hands, looking at todays drop and his fielding in the One Day series last month.

He's a very good player, he does let himself down a bit too often, although that's the risk you take.

He didn't pick it, that's all. Takes guts to field there to Jayasuriya though...

And Brad, so are you saying any batter in the world can make a 100 of 30 balls if his slogging cam off? Even Richards, KP, Jayasuriya can't do that at their most lethal. That's Afridi's gift. He can do it and make it look so easy. Does it alomst effortlessly.

 

[Simbazz]

Effortlessly yes, Responsibly NO!

Im not having a go at Afridi, if u read all my comments on the guy, i actually respect him.

His batting will come off and help Pakistan once every five games, and when he fires, Pakistan win. Simple as.

Even Richards, KP, Jayasuriya can't do that at their most lethal

Going back to my point, KP could probably do 100 in 30 balls, but its the whole maturity and responsibility issue. Afridi is surrounded by rock solid batsmen in the shape of Inzi and Yousef, and when he got his world record he was again surrounded by strong batsmen who could bat on if Afridi fell. If KP went out to do that, its Englands chance of uping the run rate out of the window.

IF i had a choice of my World Eleven, I would pick Afridi as an Opener. Especially in the shortest version, 20-20

 

[evertonfan]

Afridi wouldn't go anywhere near my World XI team; I want 11 players with brains and who know how to play with them.

 

[Simbazz]

Afridi wouldn't go anywhere near my World XI team; I want 11 players with brains and who know how to play with them.

Pit two evenly matched teams together, one with Afridi, and if he is firing, the side he is on wins, simple as.

Even if your team has Anderson getting a century Im sure you would dance for days Matt

 

[evertonfan]

It's a pity that he seems to only fire once every blue moon then. :

I'd personally have Razzaq to be honest; He can hit a mean cricket ball but he knows about controlled aggression. He also has a brain too.

 

[Simbazz]

Id personally take the chance of him firing, as his bowling is an asset and he always brings wickets.

Batting = Unreliable
Bowling= Reliable as day turning to night

 

[evertonfan]

Are you reffering to Razzaq or Afridi here? Because Razzaq is pretty consistent with both bat and ball. You should have seen his performance today; 4 wickets and a match winning, controlled, mature innings to win the game for Pakistan.

 

[nightprowler10]

Australia>India>SriLanka>SouthAfrica>NewZealand>WestIndies>Pakistan>England.

How do you like us now?

 

[Simbazz]

Are you reffering to Razzaq or Afridi here? Because Razzaq is pretty consistent with both bat and ball. You should have seen his performance today; 4 wickets and a match winning, controlled, mature innings to win the game for Pakistan.

Both with bowling, Razzaq is reliable with the bat, but in a team i want a bit of excitment, from a player such as KP, Flintoff, Afridi, Warne, Muralitheran. Someone to get the game going, get it lively. and a player like Razzaq just doesnt do it im afraid, for me anyways

 

[evertonfan]

I remember saying on another site that Pakistan would do well in this tournament because after all the bad things that have happened, something was bound to happen to reverse their fortunes, i.e, a Champions Trophy in the the trophy cabinet.

Both with bowling, Razzaq is reliable with the bat, but in a team i want a bit of excitment, from a player such as KP, Flintoff, Afridi, Warne, Muralitheran. Someone to get the game going, get it lively. and a player like Razzaq just doesnt do it im afraid, for me anyways

You think Razzaq isn't exciting? Do you even know who he is? He has more than 100 ODI sixes and is a far more consistent big hitter than Afridi. SUrely you saw his innings today and his phenomonal 70+ against England a few weeks ago? Now if that's not excitement then I don't know what is.

 

[nightprowler10]

The man who hit McGrath for 20 runs in an over all over the park isn't exciting?

 

[evertonfan]

The man who hit McGrath for 20 runs in an over all over the park isn't exciting?

By the sounds of it, he is either mixing Razzaq up with someone else, or he just has no idea who he is. :

Again, i'll mention his innings at Trent Bridge against England last month; Completly destroyed Mahmood and Lewis.

 

[puddleduck]

Not the first batsman to destroy Mahmood though is he

But yes, I would personally take Razzaq over Afridi. I was thinking about it earlier, and I wonder if there are many better number 7/8's in Odi cricket than Razzaq? Seems to do an excellent job of stabilising any collapses, and/or accelerating innings. On recent form, he is up there as one of the best Odi all-rounders in the world.

 

[brad352]

And Brad, so are you saying any batter in the world can make a 100 of 30 balls if his slogging cam off? Even Richards, KP, Jayasuriya can't do that at their most lethal. That's Afridi's gift. He can do it and make it look so easy. Does it alomst effortlessly.

No, I'm saying nothing like that- I said that Afridi uses his "gift" or whatever you want to call it to go out there and play stupid cricket. I'm not trying to argue his talent or value as an all round cricketer, but I don't know why you're debating whether he's a slogger or not, it's pretty obvious to anyone that watches him.