Azhar Ali - the heartbeat of Pakistan's fighting spirit
Melbourne, by Tristan Lavalette •
Last updated on Tue, 27 Dec, 2016, 02:39 PM
With Misbah and Younis showing slippage, Azhar Ali is emerging as a senior leader of the team and a fulcrum to build a batting order around.
Perhaps it's stating the obvious, but openers are of major importance for touring sides in Australia. So often over a prolonged period of dominance on home soil, bullying Australian spearheads have scythed through unsuspecting openers unsure of how to properly handle the tricky foreign terrain.
Alastair Cook, England captain, perfected the template for successful visiting openers during an astonishing Ashes series in 2010-11, highlighted by three tons at the top of the order to guide his team to a rare victory in Australia. Cook was nuggety and ensured early wickets weren't lost but, importantly, also could shift gears at opportune moments.
Using a similar textbook, Azhar Ali, Pakistan's redoubtable opener, has provided a stout bat in the opening two Tests to effectively thwart Australia's menacing pace attack. Azhar's failure in Pakistan's first innings of the series highlighted his importance, as Pakistan meekly collapsed in a reckless display of shoddy batting. As the senior partner alongside youngster Sami Aslam, much importance rests on the shoulders of Azhar. Since then, Azhar has handled the pressure with aplomb and scored determined knocks of 71 and 139 not out. In many ways, he has become the heartbeat of Pakistan's fighting spirit, which has lit a fuse under the series.
Azhar's determination and patience has symbolised Pakistan's newfound determined approach, which they have honed since the backend of the first Test. After such a momentous Test in Brisbane, there were fears that Pakistan - ever mercurial - could disappoint amid the swirling expectations.
The 31-year-old's straight bat and willingness to dig in ensured Pakistan have weathered Australia's onslaught and are in a position of strength after two days of the second Test despite inclement weather likely to continue to rudely intervene.
Undoubtedly, for those nitpicking, Azhar isn't the most aesthetically pleasing batsman exacerbated by looking ungainly when he does try to assert himself. Perhaps the awkwardness can be attributed to batting being not totally innate for him, having risen through the Pakistani ranks as a talented legspinner.
Much like Steve Smith, Australian captain, Azhar has transformed from a promising spinner to a vaunted batsman. There are times, like watching his mistimed drives which resemble more of a scoop, when you can sense his struggles at the crease reinforcing that he's not a natural batsman. Perhaps resulting in some of the awkward shots, Azhar firmly uses his bottom hand, which produces the occasional eye-brow raising shot.
Despite all of that, Azhar has found a methodology that clear works and is bearing fruit. He's had a stellar 2016, where he has notched more than 1000 Test runs at an average hovering around 60. With Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan showing slippage, Azhar is emerging as a senior leader of the team and a fulcrum to build a batting order around as Pakistan inevitable rebuilds with the looming retirements of their veterans.
Critics have pointed at Azhar's somewhat one-paced batting, which has the potential to sink his team in quicksand, but even the most ardent cynic would have to acknowledge his willingness to adapt.
His recent appointment as Pakistan's One-Day International captain has undoubtedly provided a tonic for Azhar to expand his repertoire of strokes. A prime example on the rain affected second day's play at the MCG was his successful implementation of the sweep shot, which effectively stymied Nathan Lyon, who had menaced on Boxing Day. His bold use of the stroke was something he rarely had the confidence of utilising earlier in his career. Another impressive aspect of his innings, where he became just the third Pakistani to score a Test century on the hallowed MCG, was Azhar's balance at the crease. Australia's pace attack aimed at the stumps to expose Azhar's penchant of shuffling across the stumps, which reared during Pakistan's recent tour of England, but were curbed by his stillness at the crease. Undoubtedly, it was a tremendous knock and Azhar has the opportunity to bat Australia out of the contest on day three.
In the press conference after the second day's play, Wahab Riaz, Pakistan paceman, paid tribute to Azhar. "He was very committed and determined since yesterday," he said. "He wanted to score a century and notch his name on the MCG (honour board). The way he has played the last two days...I think he took his time and scored runs when he needed to.
"He is a very determined guy and very focused.,. always wants to deliver. He works really hard. He is focused, always wants to score runs and hopes the team does well. He wants to lead from the front. He has always been very determined."
Spearheaded by Azhar, Pakistan are in a strong position to make a decent first innings total, but the match is headed towards a draw with more inclement weather predicted over the next three days. However, Wahab said he was hopeful Pakistan could muster a result. "This game is really important for us...we want to have a result," he said. "Unfortunately, the rain has stopped play yesterday and today but let's see what happens tomorrow.
"Obviously, we need to put some runs on the board and get some early wickets and put Australia under pressure," he added. "We need to bat for a bit and then we can analyse how the wicket is behaving."
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