This summer season in the southern hemisphere is shaping up to be a decisive one for the legacy of Misbah-ul-Haq’s Pakistan. They became the No 1 Test side briefly earlier this year and a 2-2 draw in England ranks among the finest results in Misbah’s time.
If they do well in New Zealand and Australia — and especially if they win in the latter — Misbah could move from being one of Pakistan’s greatest captains to arguably the greatest.
It is unlikely he will play beyond the Australia tour, so as far as farewell memories go what could be sweeter than guiding Pakistan to a first-ever series win in Australia?
Not that it has begun especially well. An eight-wicket defeat in Christchurch, in just over two playing days, was a second, chastening result in succession (after the Sharjah defeat to West Indies).
How they fare from hereon depends largely on how they tackle three big questions.
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Who at three?
Much of the success under Misbah has emanated from a stable batting order in which, to a large degree, everyone knows the role they play. The dropping of Mohammed Hafeez — albeit justifiable — has fractured that calm.
It has forced Pakistan to move Azhar Ali — previously so successful at three — to opening the innings. In England and against the West Indies, Pakistan revealed their hand by moving Asad Shafiq to three and there was little to argue against it.
Shafiq did not fail against the West Indies but underwhelmed and a pair in Sharjah was an abysmal way to end. That has seemingly changed the management’s mind and they dropped him back to six in Christchurch, using the newbie Babar Azam at three instead.
This is needless uncertainty — Shafiq wants to bat at three and, as the side’s most technically accomplished player, should be given a long run there.
End near for Younis?
Unlike Misbah, there is less clarity on how long Younis Khan intends to play on for. He is still scoring enough runs to justify his place in the side. But it is tempting to look at his relative struggles for three Tests in England and in the Christchurch Test and think that these could be a couple of difficult assignments for him.
One solution could be for Pakistan to start the transition process in their batting order now for a future without either Misbah or Younis. Move Shafiq to three and Azam to four, with Younis and Misbah to follow. That would allow Younis especially an opportunity to play against a softer ball, with runs already on the board.
Beware, though, the wrath of Khan. This is not to write him off — he has been written off far too many times before and, in fact, it is what he thrives on. But he will be 39 in a week’s time and Pakistan must start planning for his eventual departure.
Why no swing, Amir?
Mohammed Amir’s numbers since his return from a five-year ban are not poor, though neither are they sparkling. Twenty-two wickets in seven Tests, five of which have been in helpful conditions, at an average of 36 — those are slightly meh.
He has bowled well undoubtedly, especially if you consider that he was not allowed anywhere near a cricket ground for four of those five years. The pace remains, as does the strength to bowl lots of overs. And but for a melee of dropped catches those figures would be fat better.
Where, though, is the swing? In Christchurch, which constituted the most swing-friendly conditions he has come across since his return, he barely swung anything. He bowled well and took wickets, but, as in England, struggled to swing it as we remember him doing so.
This could be a sleight of memory. The lasting images of Amir pre-ban are from the English summer of 2010, a summer which was for swing what Woodstock was for music. That tour perhaps exaggerated how much swing he could get otherwise.
It could also be a technical glitch. Though his action looks much the same as it did before, he has not been getting as close to the stumps in delivery as he used to. Some suggest, too, that he is more front-on than he was before. It may not ultimately matter too much because he is smart enough to still pick up wickets. But for a melee of dropped catches his figures would be far better.
Indeed it may be us who have to scale down our expectations.
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