Afghanistan’s Mohammed Shahzad proves cricket is not all about fitness – talking points

Mohammed Shahzad proves batting is more about talent than fitness. Christopher Pike / The National

Shahzad’s fitness, booming crowds and Rabada’s future – Paul Radley offers his take on the biggest talking points from the world of cricket.

Talent beats fitness for Shahzad: Mohammed Shahzad was conspicuous by his absence when Afghanistan made their World Cup debut in Australia and New Zealand last year.

The extrovert wicketkeeper-batsman is one of the biggest stars in Afghan cricket, but he was cut from the squad by the then coach, Englishman Andy Moles, on account of the fact he was overweight.

The trouble is, it has mostly always been the case – and likely always will be. Shahzad is back in the side now, is still rotund and is still capable of brilliance.

ALSO READ: Paul Radley's wish-list for 2016: Stokes be a hero, Amla quit captaincy, clone McCullum

Despite cutting a figure that is less-than-standard for an athlete, he carried his bat for a fine 131 to give Afghanistan the advantage in their one-day series against Zimbabwe at Sharjah last week.

Maybe in Inzamam-ul-Haq, the new Afghanistan coach who was a batting great for Pakistan no matter the size of his waistline, Shahzad has found a more sympathetic mentor.

Booming crowds good for game: The fact one of cricket's formats is in rude health is often taken to mean one of the others must be ailing, but that does not necessarily follow.

Test cricket has been in full bloom over the past two days, admittedly at one of its banker occasions – the New Year Test in Cape Town.

That 80,000 people were simultaneously off to watch a regular-season, domestic match in Australia is just extraordinary.

That was over 30,000 – more than the entire crowd who were watching England play South Africa in the Test at Newlands – more than the previous record for a Big Bash League match in Australia.

And on the same day the Melbourne derby was being played at a teeming Melbourne Cricket Ground, a fixture at Perth was also sold out. Rather than being a blow to the Test game, the BBL boom is exclusively good for cricket.

Steyn can inspire Rabada: Kagiso Rabada has enjoyed a chastening couple of days after being brought in to replace the injured Dale Steyn for South Africa against England. He is hardly alone in that regard, though.

The fast bowler’s emergence has been one of the few morsels of cheer in a troubled period of transition for South African cricket over the past year.

He first came to international prominence when he was the standout player at the 2014 Under 19 World Cup at Dubai, when he bowled South Africa to a first win.

He remains raw, as evidenced by the amount of times he oversteps the popping crease in delivery.

If he is going to smooth off the rough edges, he does not have to look too far for help, though.

Steyn himself struggled with a no-ball problem in his early career. He now has 406 Test wickets to his name.

Talking points: Hashim Amla form, Dale Steyn comeback and attitude of England batsmen will determine series

Last week

Player of the week

Jonny Bairstow: It might be easy to think he is keeping the England gauntlets warm until Jos Buttler rediscovers his mojo, but the Yorkshireman is going to be difficult to dislodge on current form. His match haul of 120 runs was crucial to England's opening Test win in South Africa, then he made his first Test ton in Cape Town.

This week

Australia v West Indies

3rd Test – until Thursday

Afghanistan v Zimbabwe

4th ODI – Monday 5th ODI – Wednesday 1st T20I – Friday 2nd T20I – Sunday

New Zealand v Sri Lanka

5th ODI – Tuesday 1st T20I – Thursday 2nd ODI – Sunday

S Africa v England

2nd Test – until Wednesday. Bathed in sunshine, in front of a capacity crowd clearly enjoying the festivities, the Cape Town Test has been captivating so far. Unless you are South African. With three days to go, the home side can still avenge their early travails, though.

Player to watch

AB de Villiers: Reports in South Africa have claimed he intends to retire from the Test game at the end of the England series. If that is the case, and in response to Ben Stokes' brutal hitting yesterday, expect him to provide a forget-me-not innings or two.

Stat of the week

248: The best total South Africa have managed in their past 11 completed Test innings. They only reached 200 three times in that period.

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