24th February 2013 = The last time Pakistan played a Test on Sky
27th November 2013 = The last time Pakistan played an ODI on Sky

Sky only show

England home and away games

And home games from every country but Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Pakistan (UAE) unless England tour

And following ICC Events

World Cup
World T20
Champions Trophy
ICC U-19 CWC

Women's World Cup
Women's World T20

a disappointing trophy design for what should be a monumental test series victory https://twitter.com/faizanlakhani/status/524585469812932609

The All Blacks did it at home in 2011-12. Can the Blackcaps do the same in 2014-15? World Cup glory.

All Rugby World Cups have been won by cricket playing nations.

South Africa, New Zealand, Australia = 2 each and one for Martin Johnson’s England in 2003

RWC final this day next year. SAs cricketers watching the 2007 final vs England during a tour of Pakistan.

31^st October

Razzaq on cloud 9. A World Cup (4 years) since.

Rugby World Cup final this day next year.

Halloween of course!

Nonsense that YK has shown 2 fingers to the selectors. Extremely lucky to still be playing even Tests after his media outburst last month. 

On this day Pakistan lost to South Africa by 1 run. Defeat from nowhere. 2013.

On this day Pakistan won the 2011 Hong Kong Sixes.

12 April 2013

https://twitter.com/maza786/statuses/322733735156015104

On this day Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 9 wickets in the second Test at Dubai. 2011.

Breakdown of 40 ODI wins of M

6-0 vs Bangladesh
5-1 vs Zimbabwe
0-4 vs England
3-0 vs Ireland
2-0 vs Afghanistan
1-0 vs Scotland 
1-4 vs Australia
4-3 vs India
10-10 vs Sri Lanka
5-9 vs South Africa
Not played NZ
3-2 vs West Indies

Overall his 59 wins as captain

9 vs Bangladesh
9 vs Zimbabwe
3 vs Ireland
2 vs Afghanistan
1 vs Scotland

24-2 vs minnows

4 vs England
4 vs India
4 vs West Indies
3 vs Australia (first Pak captain to win a match against them in all 3 formats. 09 - t20, odi 2012)
1 vs New Zealand
13 vs Sri Lanka
6 vs South Africa

35-42 otherwise

Misbah's ODI Captaincy Record - 10 Positives

Led for 70+ ODIs in a row. Only one from Pak. Must be doing something right. 
Only outplayed in 3 series 4-0, 4-1, 3-0. Rest won or close. 
Beaten nine different countries in a series. 
Beaten four better ranked teams in series. 
More ODI wins than any England Captain.
Beaten 2011 CWC finalists in series. 
First time Pak have won 7 ODI series in a year = 2013.
Won against all 7 ODI teams he played in a series in 2013.
4-3 ODI captaincy record vs India.
Pre: 2/10 Asia Cup finals. Under him: 2/2 Asia Cup finals and back to back ones.

38 Points of Misbah's Captaincy Record - ALL Formats Thrown In

Highest W/L in Test history

Won a series in 1 format at least vs 12 different countries

Won 14 consecutive internationals

Unbeaten for 16 consecutive series

Won 12 consecutive series

Won more Test series than previous 5 captains

Won more Test series vs higher ranked team than previous 5

Won more ODI series than previous 4 captains

Won more ODI series vs higher ranked team than previous 4

Captained for significantly longer than previous 5 captains all formats combined

Won more international games than previous 5 captains all formats combined

Won a four team+ tournament unlike previous 4 – Asia Cup in ODIs

Fourth most international wins by a Pak captain out of 33

Fourth most capped Pak captain out of 33

Fourth most ODI wins by a Pak captain

Fourth most capped Pak ODI captain

Highest W/L all formats – 28-2 10^th Feb 2012

Highest W/L in ODIs – 14-1 on above date 

One of the better W/L ratios by a Pak captain in all formats

One of the better W/L ratios by a Pak captain in ODIs

Most ODI wins Pak have had in a calendar year in 2011 = 24

Most ODI wins a team had in that calendar year in 2011

Most international wins Pak have had in a calendar in 2011 = 34

Most international wins a team had in that calendar year in 2011

Won domestic treble in a season – first international captain to do it at the same time

In 30 years of Asia Cup, only one of two Pak skippers to have won it in 12 editions

Won an international tournament and a domestic Twenty20 tournament (very few have)

Highest winning % in T20I by Pak skipper, six in six at one point before 2 defeats

Lowest % of Test defeats after 17

Won more than he has lost in all 3 formats (only Pak captain)

One of 4 to lead to 50+ international wins in Pak captains

One of 4 to lead in 100+ internationals in Pak captains

First time Pak have won 7 ODI series in a year = 2013

Won against all 7 ODI teams he played in a series in 2013

Won or drawn against better ranked in ten series overall across all formats combined

Won a series against better ranked ODI team on 4 occasions

4-3 ODI captaincy record vs India

Pre: 2/10 Asia Cup finals. Under him: 2/2 Asia Cup finals and back to back ones

52 Points on Misbah's Record as Test Captain During His Time

Highest W/L in Test history

Won 5 consecutive Tests

Won 4 consecutive Test series

Unbeaten for 7 consecutive Test series

Unbeaten for 12 consecutive Tests

Took Pak into top 3

Beaten a number 1 ranked team

Won or drawn against all eight teams played against in series

Second most Test wins Pak have had in a calendar year (2011)

Highest win/loss ratio Pak have had in a calendar year (2011)

Won a Test series outside Asia after 7 years

Won a Test series vs higher ranked team after 5.5 years in 2011 vs SL

Only Pak captain to not lose a full Test series vs South Africa

First Pak captain to beat England by a 3 match margin

Winning Test series against England away from home after 16 years

First Pak captain to whitewash a side outside home

First Pak captain whitewash a side since Bangladesh 2003

Second most Test wins by a Pak captain

Fourth most capped Pak captain

Only one of three Pak captains to lead in over 50% of their overall Tests played

Won a Test Match vs 8 different sides

Won a Test Series vs 5 different sides

Won or drawn a Test Series vs 8 different sides

Only lost 1 Test in 8 series at one point

Lowest % of Test defeats after 17

After 23 Tests had highest % of won Tests by a Pak captain

Won or drawn a series against better ranked team on 5 occasions

4-4 vs number 1 ranked Test sides

Joint most Test wins by a team in 2011

Highest W/L by a team in 2011

Only lost Test Series vs 2 out of 8 countries

Only lost a Test Match vs 4 out of 8 countries

Most AWAY wins by a Pak captain

Difference of 4 between won and lost. Imran had 6. Waz 4.

5-4 from 11 Tests vs number 1 or number 2 ranked sides

Only lost 1 in 5 series vs first or second ranked side.

Miandad most series wins with 8. Misbah on 5.

Pak have never won a Test series 4-0 or 5-0. Best 3-0 times 5. He did it.

Pak have only won 7 out of 22 series vs England. He did it.

Pak have whitewashed a side 5 times. He did it.

Won or drawn 21 out of 30 Tests as captain. Imran 40 in 48.

Not lost any of six series in UAE.

13-9 overall record

5-3 series record

Last six teams to tour NZ – highest winning % in series

Last six teams to tour NZ - only two have won. Him being one. Ind lost. Eng drew.

2012 was first series whitewash in Pak vs England since first playing them in 1954

Led in 15 consecutive Tests twice. Very few have. 9-1 in first 15. 4-8 in second 15.

7-2 record in UAE

5-1 vs number 1 or 2 in UAE

Back to back Test wins for first time since 2005.

Superior or level head to head record against everyone but SL and SA

On this day Azhar Ali registered his maiden Test Century at the DSC against Sri Lanka. 2011.

On this day the pools for the Bangladesh WT20 finals were named. 2013.

Happy 40th birthday to England's winningest Test Captain - Michael Vaughan.

Another 40 year old Misbah ul Haq is on the brink of becoming Pakistan's winningest Test Captain.

Chris Tavare

Happy 60th to cricket's most famous notorious blocker - Chris Tavare. England 1980-1989. Ashes winner 1981. One of the best extreme classical players in the game during his time. One of the hardest defensive batsman to dislodge. He could bat for an age without the scoreboard moving along. The height of obduracy. He famously closed up an end while Botham was on cloud nine during the 1981 Ashes when England were attempting to fight their way back in the series. A modern day mix of Azhar Ali and Nick Compton. Some of the innings he played in his career-

35 from 240 balls

9 from 82 balls

44 from 200+ balls

A reflection of his ability to grind it out for long periods and value his wicket at all costs. 

Michael Vaughan

Happy 40th birthday to the man who captained his country to Ashes glory after 18 years in 2005 against the great Aussies side.
He also led England to 10 consecutive home Test victories before that series.
He also led England to an unprecedented 26 Test victories as captain.
He also led England to the final of the 2004 Champions Trophy.
He had the honour of leading them in the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.

Winning a Test from 7/2 having lost 9 of their last 10 international games.
Playing against a team that had won 7 of their last 8 Tests.

Pak vs Aus Recently

In ICC Events: W W W

In Tests: W W 

In LOIs: L L L L 

Breakdown of his 13 Test Wins as Captain 

Won a Test Match Against

England times 3 (2012)

Bangladesh times 2 (2011)

Zimbabwe times 2 (2011 and 2013)

Sri Lanka times 2 (2011 and 2014)

South Africa times 1 (2013)

West Indies times 1 (2011)

New Zealand times 1 (2011)

Australia times 1 (2014)

Lost a Test Match Against

South Africa times 4 (2013)

Sri Lanka times 3 (2014)

West Indies (2011)

Zimbabwe (2013)

Drawn a Test Match Against

Sri Lanka times 5 (2011, 2012 and 2014)

South Africa times 2 (2010)

New Zealand times 1 (2011)

Pakistan haven't lost their last 8 "home" series including in NZ vs NZ in 2009 and in England vs Australia 2010.

6 series in the UAE post spot fixing. 4 different countries. 5 better ranked sides played coming into the series. Not lost a series. 

All the talk on England's Ashes and away tour of South Africa in 2015/16.  Pakistan in UAE will be their hardest challenge. No team has won here. 2012 memories still fresh. 

England have only won 2 out of 27 Tests vs Pakistan away from home.

27th February 2012. The last time Pakistan played England in an international fixture. 

A year today beaten by an innings against SA. Today win by 200 and plenty. Cricket. 

Six wickets away from back to back Test wins against Australia. Building on Leeds 2010.

Beat them at the World T20 this year. Beat them in a Test. The two most important ones. Who cares about bilateral LOIs?

Hope not a repeat of last year vs SA in 2nd test - Pakistan haven't lost a Test in Abu Dhabi. Don't make the second Test a first.

16 weekends to go.

22 till the final.

First Nine Days - Different Games

Late arrival for UAE. Hope they can stay competitive for long enough against the Zimbabweans.

When a New Zealand XI played Scotland in October 

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/777791.html

SA won in 2011 CWC, India won in CT13. Both were high scoring encounters. Here we go...

Not the first time. Interesting situation for Phil Simmons. 

Bangladesh - Afghanistan

When they met at international events early last year

Asia Cup: http://www.espncricinfo.com/asia-cup-2014/engine/current/match/710299.html

World T20: http://www.espncricinfo.com/world-t20/engine/current/match/682897.html

On this day Imran Tahir bowled his way to a Test 5-fer at DSC during a comeback Test match and a must win Test match last year. It was on the opening day of the Test. Pakistan were shot out for 99 for a second successive time at the venue, having won the toss and elected to make first use of the surface.

Pakistan lost this Test comprehensively. However, South Africa's innings victory was overshadowed with ball tampering controversies during the evening of the third day.

Turgid day at the Test Match. Hard graft.

Prediction at stumps tomorrow: Pakistan 341 AO. Australia 110/4 (40+).

Early Post

Assuming Pak go 1 up...

MAINTAINED. Misbah has won a Test and won/drawn a series against every team he has captained against. Only India is missing. All other 8. 

Won Series Against

England
New Zealand
Sri Lanka
Zimbabwe
Bangladesh

Drawn Series Against

South Africa twice
West Indies
Zimbabwe
Sri Lanka

Lost Series Against

Sri Lanka twice
South Africa

On this day in 2011 Taufeeq Umar got the first double hundred by a Pakistan opener in 19 years.

Tonight: That start of the most important season in New Zealand cricket history.

Like 2010/11
Pak are playing a 2 match Test series against number 2 ranked side in UAE
Followed by a series against the Kiwis.
And then the biggest thing going in one day cricket follows.

Australia have won 3-0 in 4 out of their last 5 series against Pakistan.

Last time we played Test Cricket vs Australia in Asia - Steve Waugh was their captain. It's been THAT LONG.

BCCI should have used this as an opportunity to send them to Australia earlier and get some much needed acclimatization to stand a chance of being evenly remotely competitive in the Tests, but it seems one day cricket is a higher priority for them in the lead up to mid Feb.

On this day, for the second time, Misbah hit a left arm spinner for a six to bring up a Test win for Pakistan, finishing the job off in style.

2002 Under 19 World Cup won by Australia in New Zealand
2010 Under 19 World Cup won by Australia in New Zealand
2018 Under 19 World Cup in New Zealand

England reached 2004 Champions Trophy final and lost from a winning position at home
England reached 2013 Champions Trophy final and lost from a winning position at home
England host the 2017 event

Prediction - West Indies will win the 2016 Under 19 World Cup - beating Bangladesh in the final led by Tagenarine Chanderpaul. 
Prediction - West Indies will win the 2016 World Twenty20 - beating India in the final.

Pakistan's 2017 CT and 2019 WC Captain

1) Azhar Ali - my choice
Other possible options below is no particular order:
2) Mohammad Hafeez?
3) Umar Amin
4) Sami Aslam
5) Babar Azam
6) Shan Masood
7) Sarfraz Ahmed
Ideally Misbah of course ... who is to rule it out with how far he has stretched his tenure?

On this day Pakistan made their Test debut in 1952.

On this day Lahore Lions won the Pakistan domestic T20 tournament for the first time, defeating Karachi Dolphins in the final. 2010.

16th October 2004

10 years since the home defeat in the tri series final. Won 4/4 in round games. 

SL in Pakistan

1995 Won Test Series

1996 Won World Cup

2004 Won Tri Series

2008 Won Asia Cup

Thoughts

Fantastic to see Steve Finn in England’s one day plans. Wicket taker. Attacking bowler.

Like the way Tredwell varies his pace from 45mph-60mph. Fascinating stuff.

England resuming action on 26^th November – the day which brought Alastair his most famous Test win under his captaincy – A 10 wicket win at Mumbai to level proceedings

Glad to see Taufeeq back in the Test plans. When he last played Pak had only lost 1 Test in 8 series (2010-12). Best run I’ve seen from Pak

Steve O Keefe surely has to play. Might not be Herath but Pak are a hopeless bunch against SLA

Scotland defeated by 1 run to NZ. They meet in the first week of CWC.

You associate aggressive scoring rates with this Aus line up. Would be interesting to see if they can curb their instincts in conditions where scoring rates are known to be stodgy

Five Tests in 42 days for England-India in the summer. Five Tests in 40 days for Pak now against the hosting nations of the World Cup. Most challenging schedule since England 2010 where 6 in 7 weeks.

Misbah like Cook in the summer – five tests to get through in quick succession – get through it – prize to lead in cricket’s biggest global prize

Is the CWC what it once was?

So many different tournaments now

Since 1998 – Champions Trophy was introduced and there have been 7 editions

Since 2008 – IPL

Since 2009 – CLT20

Since 2008 – Asia Cup played every alternate year

Since 1998 - ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup has been played every alternate year

Since 2007 – World T20s have been introduced as an alternate year championship and we have already had five of them

When there was no Champions Trophy, Youth World Cup, IPL/CL, World Twenty20s or the Asia Cup played with regularity in the 90s then perhaps it was bigger.

Now there is so much choice.

The competition format for the World Cup doesn’t help:

Needless to have quarter finals after such a long qualification process

If they want to have as many knockout matches as possible – why not have a knockout from the start with 16 teams after a few warm ups?

Very few sides are eliminated despite the duration of the round games

Over half of the teams progress

All major teams are bound to reach QFs unless they are exceptionally poor

Pakistan's last 3 scores batting first day 1 Dubai: 99, 99, 165. Not been at the races. BOWL first.

Happy Birthday Shan Masood. On this day last year he made his Test debut against top ranked South Africa in Abu Dhabi. Shan made a noteworthy contribution in his first Test innings, putting on over 100 for the opening wicket.

Thoughts

CWC final on the same weekend as Piers Morgan's 50th. 30th March 2011 - The final before the final. The game which brought the sub continent to a halt.

India had to wait 28 years for their second. Pakistan will have to wait much longer one will imagine.

Misbah cleverly avoids the whitewash by sitting out.

Umar Amin at least matched his club average last night.

Originally there were talks of this tour possibly being held in Australia. Would have at least provided some benefit. Whitewashed here in seemingly home conditions.

Irfan - twice last man out in 1 run defeat and also left Misbah stranded on 96*. Three games where a not out from him would have made the difference. Number 11s have got 98, 95 and 81 in England since 2012 in Test Match Cricket before someone starts.

2007 WT20, 2011 WC, 2013 CT = Misbah Pak leading run scorer and tournament won by India.

Nothing can match Mohali. Never had they met so deep in the competition. They didn’t meet in 2007. They both had shambolic campaigns in 2007. They had both won the competition once before. They had both played two finals, losing the last one they played. They both failed to win it when it was held in the sub-continent in 1987 and 1996. The prize of joining Sri Lanka for the first all Asian final was up for grabs. It was a central location accessible to both sets of supporters in the Punjab of India. It was the longest wait for an India-Pakistan World Cup game there had been since first playing in 1992 and ever since Centurion of 2003. Sachin Tendulkar had the opportunity of scoring his hundred 100^th having already notched up two during the group stages. Politicians and bureaucrats attended. It was the type of game you will never see again. It was perfectly set up.

I do believe Test Cricket is Pakistan's strongest format at the moment. Were not ranked no3 this June for nothing.

Australia haven't played a Test since the early days of March. Chance to catch them cold in first Test? Like SA last year.

This week last year - 17th October - Pakistan defeated SA by 7 wickets in 1st Test - Misbah's second best Test win after Abu Dhabi vs England.

Pakistan since spot fixing scandal in Tests
Won 12 | Lost 10 | Drawn 8
Won 5 series
Lost 3 series
Drawn 5 series
No series in England or Australia though

India in last 20 away Tests
Won 2 | Lost 13 | Drawn 5
Won 1 series
Lost 5 series
Failed to win a Test in 4 of the series

Misbah's Captaincy Record ALL Formats
Won 21 series | Lost 11 series | Drawn 5 series.
Captained in 3 international tournaments with a title too.

Afridi's Last 3 ODIs as captains
LLL

Waqar Younis
1-8 since he took over
4 consecutive series defeats

http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-pakistan-2010/engine/match/426417.html Not the first time he has got stuck. Teams will bowl to keep him in.

Pakistan have only been playing South Africa, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in the last two years in Test Cricket.

However, the next 4 series in UAE

Australia
New Zealand
England
India (potentially)

Pak-Aus - a series of two teams and captains that have whitewashed England in recent times

4 years today Ijaz Butt's masterstroke, a journey of unshakable resolve commenced http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan-v-south-africa-2010/content/story/480522.html

Stability - key word here, 4 years on https://twitter.com/bhogleharsha/status/26749614892

Not seen a more accurate assessment of a Pakistan player, 4 years on http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan-v-south-africa-2010/content/story/481054.html - interesting bit on Yousuf's insistence here 

4 years is an eternity to be in charge of the Pakistan side, worth 7 in a more professional set up

4 years is a long time, but even more so in today's packed calendars and with Pak always on the road

Keep repeating the 4 years bit, longevity is a key part of judging a successful captain

Given IK missed key series during his tenure, Kardar played at a time of two Tests per year, M Pak's longest serving in time

7th October 2012

On this day West Indies won the ICC World Twenty20 in Colombo. Marlon Samuels MOM. Shane Watson player of the tournament.

Does this mean no har lamha purjosh in February? Thank goodness. https://twitter.com/WaseemBadami/status/519104057248460800

Pakistan in UAE ODIs since 2009

Beaten

Sri Lanka twice
Afghanistan

Lost to

Australia twice
South Africa twice
New Zealand
England

Misbah has beaten in a series

India
Sri Lanka twice
West Indies
South Africa
Bangladesh
Zimbabwe twice
Ireland twice
Scotland
Afghanistan

Misbah has lost to in a series

Sri Lanka twice
South Africa twice
England
Australia

Chance to add Australia and New Zealand to the beaten list.

Mitchell Starc was player of the series when the Baggy Greens won the ODIs in UAE in 2012. He was also named player of the series at the Champions League that year shortly after.

On this day last year two Indian stalwarts - Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar played their last white ball game. Both were bowled as they had their furniture shattered to finish off. It was the Champions League final and a fitting finale for two truly great players and ambassadors of the sport.

5th October 2009

On this day Australia won their last men's senior team ICC trophy. Champions Trophy final 2009. 

2016 World Twenty20 prep starts here.

Pak 7-4 vs Aus in T20.
3-2 in World T20s.
They have beaten Aus in 2012 and 2014 World Twenty20s.
U Akmal has two T20 man of the match awards vs them in this format.
Also, was MOM in 2011 World Cup vs them.
Pak won T20 series vs Aus in UAE in both 2009 and 2012.
Both failed to qualify for WT20 semis this year.

Thoughts

Failed coach, foolish choice of t20 captain, star bowler banned, YK behaving with an inflated ego. Just about hanging on to Pak Cricket....

Myth that SA was a brilliant aggressive leader 

Ball Biting Incident
Ran away from Test Captaincy
Lost more than he won
Violated code of conduct repeatedly

No stability - controversial figure
No substantial performances besides minnows 
No brilliant team results

Didn't beat a higher ranked ODI side in series
Lost 4 consecutive T20 series
Quit Tests mid way through a series

Attacked his players in the press
Leaked dressing room secrets
Gave irresponsible media statements
Fall out with Waqar Younis
Called Indians "less big hearted"

Wasn't aggressive like some say he was
2011 World Cup achievement overplayed - Kenya reached 2003 semis

Test and ODI skip should be same:
In an ideal world
Teams are better served
Avoids factions, groupings and politics
Reduces Pressure
Improves stability
Every team barring WI and SA this is the case, but even there the Test captain is in the ODI team - player
Easier for teams to progress without dramas and hassle
Great captains have to lead their sides in all formats or most formats - aspire for greatness
If there is one captain that can captain well, then having different captains is pointless
A Test Captain is a complete product who should be able to adapt to different formats demands

Afridi - 4th October

On this day Shahid Afridi scored the quickest century in ODI cricket against Sri Lanka in 1996.

On the same day against Sri Lanka in 2012, he bagged a first ball duck in the ICC World Twenty20 semi final.

Misbah has won 7 out of 10 games as Pakistan Captain in the Asia Cup across 3 competitions. 2008-2014.

Misbah has been not out in the last innings of a match in either a win or draw for Pakistan on as many as 30 occasions. Composed finisher. Steady operator. Dependable presence.

Thoughts today

Sri Lanka's brilliant year continues http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/778043.html

Hong Kong did beat Bangladesh at the World T20 this year http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/778043.html

London buses https://twitter.com/cricket_U/status/517768793209049088

Arsene Wenger started with Arsenal on 1st October 1996
Shahid Afridi started with Pakistan on 2nd October 1996
Still going... mediocrity some will argue

2013 = MI vs RR final - the first game of main draw. 2014 = KKR v CSK - the first game of man draw.

CSK looking to win the CLT20 for a second time. KKR trying to do a Mumbai of last year by winning the double. Mind you, Mumbai had a poor follow up season after the double last year. KKR should have that in the back of their minds.

Imran Khan's birthday - Sunday also Eid day in Pakistan. On Eid ul Adha in 2013, Misbah scored a century against South Africa in the Abu Dhabi Test to set up a match winning lead and a series winning lead.

5th October 2012 - The last time Australia played a T20 on this day. One they will want to erase from their memory. 2012 ICC World T20 semi final. On the receiving end of a battering from the eventual champions later that week, West Indies.

More Admirable Features of Misbah's Play

1) Centuries covered before
     Strike rotation covered before
     Strike rotation (2) covered before
     His attacking options covered before

2) How he doesn't panic when runs don't come
How he backs his temperament when the bowlers are bowling well and the ball is hard to get away
How he surprises bowlers with his attacking shots and makes his mindset difficult to read
How he can reign himself in despite having the ability to score quickly and play attacking shots
Strong fundamental basis technically
Full hearted in defence or attack

3) How he combines defence and attack
How he combines survival and scoring
How he combines defence and attack along with nudging singles and twos
Positive in defence, positive in attack
How he plays the release shot to break the shackles

4) Priding his wicket as if his life depends on it
Occupying the wicket like it is his bed
Busy and proactive in his crease movements
Making his mind difficult to read from a bowling point of view
Intense desire to be there at the end and close out games

5) Absorbing Pressure
Making the most of each innings, batting each time like it is his last

6) Can't make runs sitting in the shed
Better to be in the middle than seeing others bat
The longer you spend in the middle the more runs you are giving yourself the chance to get
Better to score slowly rather than not scoring at all
It's not possible to score with SR of 80+ each time consistently
Combining modern innovations with traditional virtues

20 years since the one wicket win vs Aus in Test Series decider. Last time they beat them in the whites. http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/63654.html

10 Features About Misbah's Batting That You Can Learn From

How he backs away when playing the slog sweep, forcing the bowler to follow him and then takes him on, on the on side.

How he can be deceptively powerful against spinners, luring them into a false sense of security before unleashing a towering blow.

How he gets deep in his crease and across to target mid-wicket. Six hitting is a science.

How he changes his striking points at the crease. Forward, back, off side, leg side.

How he earns full tosses, half trackers, slower balls and hittable length as a result of his crease movements.

How he varies his bat lift accordingly.

How he dinks the ball gently into the on side when the fielders are on the fence on the on side to get an easy two.

How he executes the reverse sweep which such confidence and productivity.

How he nudges balls into the on side to get off strike.

How he smoothers the spin in defence.

Thoughts Today

October! The month which has over the years signalled - international cricket returns to the UAE – 2010, 2011, 2013 and now

Unsurprisingly only teams from Australia and India have won the CLT20 and this year will be no different with the semi-final line up, 6^th year

On this day was a famous victory for Pak Women’s Team in 2012 – Beat India at the ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka

6 months on since the miserable day – 1^st April 2014 at Dhaka – humiliation resulting in elimination

10 years this week Misbah played his last match for Pak before disappearing in the wilderness for 3 years. Against Zimbabwe. 10 years yesterday Razzaq brutal in the last 10 overs. Adding approximately 150 in the last 10.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/66378.html

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/66379.html