Speaking exclusively to PakPassion.net; Azhar spoke amongst other things of his introduction to international cricket, the advantage of playing most of his cricket in Rawalpindi, his lack of a Test century and the key to his excellent temperament.

 by Saj Sadiq

06 June 2011

 

 

In his own unassuming way, Azhar Ali has rattled up nearly 800 runs in only 12 test matches at an average of just over 37. 

Azhar's introduction to international cricket could not have been a tougher baptism, with six Test matches in England last year against Australia and the hosts. The tour was a tough one for even the most seasoned of professionals, and one can only imagine what was going through the mind of the debutant.

Speaking exclusively to PakPassion.net, Azhar spoke amongst other things of his introduction to international cricket, the advantage of playing most of his cricket in Rawalpindi, his lack of a Test century and the key to his excellent temperament.

Ali had been earmarked by some former players as a batsman of great promise but didn't debut for Pakistan until he was 25. However he spoke of the benefit of his experience in first class cricket, helping him as he launched his international career.

"I made my debut at the age of 25. Some would say that is quite late, but I would turn that around and say that I then had the benefit of nine years of experience in first class cricket. We have all seen instances of young cricketers being thrust into the limelight of international cricket and then failing to live up to the expectations. I haven't had things easy in domestic cricket, there had been ups and downs and I had all that experience to fall back upon."

Ali's early cricketing experiences include playing league cricket in the United Kingdom. He spoke of the fantastic opportunity that league cricket presents overseas cricketers as they look to improve aspects of their game.

"The responsibility bestowed upon an overseas professional in club cricket in the United Kingdom is very high. There are no ifs or buts, you are expected to perform well, week in, week out. Expectations are very high and there are no excuses for failure. The conditions I encountered in the UK were really difficult for batting and to score runs you had to be patient. It's not easy to do well in club cricket and there is so much to gain from a spell there."

Pakistan's domestic structure and standard has come in for a lot of flak in recent times, but Azhar is of the opinion that whilst the structure may need a few minor tweaks, it will continue to produce quality cricketers that are well prepared for international cricket.

"The standards in domestic are not as some people try to make out. No domestic structure can be described as perfect and the domestic structure in Pakistan does need a few minor changes, but nothing drastic. Perhaps the standard of cricket domestically isn't as strong as it has been in the past, but these things go round in cycles and who knows maybe the standard will increase again in future. There are a lot of very talented cricketers playing first class cricket in Pakistan and we will continue to produce those talented cricketers."

Azhar's introduction to international cricket he feels was helped by playing most of his domestic cricket on the bowler friendly pitches in Rawalpindi, rather than some of his compatriots who feature on more batting friendly wickets regularly.

"I was brought up on the Rawalpindi wickets of Khan Research Laboratories (KRL). Those wickets are the most bowler friendly wickets in the whole of Pakistan and to score runs on those wickets you have to be a decent batsman. The weather, the conditions make the wickets a fast bowler's dream and really tough for the batsmen. To even score 250 runs in an innings is a tough ask and the challenge is a tough one for batsmen. However I always enjoy batting on those wickets, as they test you thoroughly. Anyone can score runs on flat tracks, but scoring runs on the sort of wickets that you encounter in Rawalpindi and Islamabad is the real challenge."

Ali's made eight half centuries in the twelve Tests that he has featured in and he rates his 92 not out at the Oval last year against England as his best international innings to date.

"The innings at the Oval was one that I really enjoyed. I thought I batted well and according to the match situation and we went on to win that Test match which was really good. Asif and I made some useful runs for the last wicket partnership and extended our lead to 75 runs."

"Another test match that I really enjoyed and where I thought I did well was the match against South Africa in Abu Dhabi where I scored 90 in the first innings and 28 not out in the second innings. We drew the test match despite conceding a 150 run deficit on first innings. I batted in pain for most of the first innings and throughout the second innings as I had fractured my thumb. However I wanted to be out there in the middle and ensure that we saved the match and batted for over three hours in the second innings. It was a tough test, but one that I thoroughly enjoyed and learnt a lot from."

Whilst Azhar's gritty batting has won over fans and critics alike and made him an automatic choice in the test side, one statistic that is certainly playing on his mind is that he has not reached three figures yet.

"I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a worry. I've crossed the half century mark eight times in 12 tests and am yet to score a century, so yes it is a concern as the conversion rate is zero and I should be converting the fifties to hundreds. However I'm trying to not let it affect my batting and levels of concentration and I'm sure that once I've scored one test century and the pressure is off, then God Willing there will be many more to come."

"In the match situation I continue to play each ball on merit irrespective of how many runs I have scored. It's not as if I change my approach after reaching the half century mark or it's a mental block. It happens to even the greatest players, I recall Sachin Tendulkar going through a phase where he was regularly being dismissed in the nineties and I look at the example of Tendulkar and he made his first ODI century in his 76th match for India. For myself sometimes there have been some good deliveries, I was run out in the West Indies recently, but I'm sure the century is not too far away."

Azhar's captain at KRL, in an interview with PakPassion.net, commented on his temperament and patience being Azhar's greatest assets and Azhar stated that he was grateful to his parents for enforcing the rule of patience in all areas of life.

"My parents, especially my father deserves the credit for my temperament and my patience. He taught me the virtue of patience at a young age and told me that all good things come to those people who are patient. It's a message that I have always followed, both in and out of cricket. I've never been one for getting involved in things like sledging on the field, it's never interested me and anyone that feels that they need to sledge me is really wasting their time, as it will have no effect on me at all."

"I also felt I had a point to prove with the bat and show team mates and coaches that I could play long innings, despite batting lower down the order. I started as a leg spinner and that was my main strength, but over the course of time, I started to play long innings down the order, bat with responsibility and with a cool head and gradually was elevated up the batting order. That elevation up the batting order could not have happened if I did not have the ability and temperament to play long innings. My philosophy is simple in Test cricket, I want to be out there in the middle batting for as long as possible. The only place you can score runs and improve as a cricketer is out there on the field. You don't improve as a batsman by sitting in the pavilion and just watching your team mates having been dismissed."

Keen observers of the game seem to think that Azhar's future in Test cricket lies at the top of the order, rather than at one down, but Azhar is of the opinion that at the moment the number three position is ideal for him.

"Batting at number three is just like opening really. I don't mind where I bat if the truth be told. Whether it's opening, at number three or the middle order, I'm happy to bat wherever the captain and coach want me to bat. I've opened in domestic cricket so if at some point in the future I'm asked to open the batting I would happily do that. As an international batsman you must have the ability to bat at any position and be flexible."