The failure of Pakistani opening batsmen in Test cricket

Pakistani cricket team’s major weakness is batting and the weakest part of its batting is opening partnership. It lacks good technique, right temperament and professional approach in all forms of cricket but it is always exposed most in Test cricket. Finding a reliable pair of opening batsmen has traditionally been a major problem for Pakistani batting lineup in its 61 years history of Test cricket. In recent years, this chronic ailment has become more severe. 

Mohammad Hafeez has opened batting for Pakistan in each of last 23 Test matches in last three years with five different batsmen – Khurram Manzoor, Imran Farhat, Azhar Ali, Nasir Jamshed and Taufeeq Umar. The most stable of these five pairs was Mohammad Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar who opened in 18 consecutive Test matches. 

In the last 50 Test matches, Pakistan has tried 11 opening batsmen trying different combinations but was unable to find a successful opening pair. The basic reason for failure of opening batsmen is none of these players were good enough to provide good start at international level. 

There are only 7 instances in 97 innings of last 50 Test matches when Pakistani openers provided a century partnership and 12 other innings of fifty plus opening partnership. It makes a total of only 19 innings when Pakistani openers provided a start of 50 or more (19.58%). Whereas in 28 innings, Pakistan’s opening partnership was broken at a score of 10 or less. These single digit opening partnerships account for 28.86% of 97 innings in last 50 Test matches. 

Following is a list of Test careers as an opener of 11 batsmen who have opened batting for Pakistan in Test cricket in last 50 Test matches Pakistan has played:

Batsman                              M            I               NO         Runs      HS          Ave        100         50

Khurram Manzoor         8              14           1              370         93           28.46     0              4

Mohammad Hafeez        34           66           5              2061       196         33.78     5              8

Imran Farhat                  39           76           2              2357       128         31.85     3              14

Azhar Ali                       1              2              27           27           27           27.00     0              0

Kamran Akmal             6              9              0              322         78           35.77     0              3

Nasir Jamshed              2              4              0              51           46           12.75     0              0

Shoaib Malik                7              11           1              426         148*      42.60     1              2

Taufeeq Umar               43           81           5              2943       236         38.72     7              14

Yasir Hameed                12           21           0              546         76           26.00     0              4

Salman Butt                   31           56           0              1742       122         31.10     3              10

Fawad Alam                  2              4              0              216         168         54.00     1              0