Cricket: SPUN OUT OF CONTENTION

In the world of cricket, home advantage is a well-documented phenomenon, where teams often thrive in conditions tailored to their strengths. For Pakistan, the transition from being an unbeatable force in home Tests under Misbah-ul-Haq to struggling to secure even a single victory at home in three years is both stark and troubling.
Misbah, one of Pakistan’s most successful Test captains, led the team through a remarkable unbeaten streak in home Tests. The foundation of this success was built on a potent spin bowling attack and the ability to create pitches that played to their strengths. However, the decline in performance over the past three years raises crucial questions about the factors contributing to this downward spiral, particularly in the spin department.
During Misbah-ul-Haq’s captaincy, Pakistan established a reputation for being nearly invincible in home Tests, primarily played in the UAE. The pitches in the UAE were conducive to spin, allowing the likes of Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Hafeez and Abdur Rehman to dominate opposition teams. Misbah’s tactical acumen, coupled with an impressive bowling unit, made it exceedingly difficult for visiting teams to adapt.
The pinnacle of this success came in 2012, when Pakistan whitewashed the then No 1 ranked England team 3-0 in a Test series, a feat that highlighted their prowess on home soil.
As Misbah stepped down and the team entered a new era, expectations remained high, but the results took a disappointing turn. Fast forward to the present, the transition from Misbah’s era to the current phase has seen the team fail to secure a single victory in home Tests for over three years. During this period, the team has witnessed two different captains, Babar Azam and Shan Masood, along with numerous changes in management, yet the results have remained frustratingly consistent: failure.
Home conditions are crucial for any Test-playing nation, allowing teams to exploit their strengths. When teams travel to Australia, they encounter bouncy and fast pitches that cater to their fast bowlers, while in India, spin-friendly tracks give their spinners the upper hand. However, Pakistan has failed to create similar conditions that leverage their spinners’ skills.
One of the most alarming statistics is that, from January 2020 to before the ongoing Test series against England, Pakistan has not produced a single spinner who has taken 50 wickets in Tests. The only other team in the Test-playing world in such a situation is Afghanistan, but it plays significantly fewer Tests.This lack of quality of spinners stands as a stark contrast to their historic strength in this department.
Leaving aside the class of Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman, today’s spinners have yet to match the match-winning performances delivered by bowlers such as Zulfiqar Babar and Bilal Asif. They also bowled match-winning spells and often stepped up in crucial moments when the team needed them the most.

Yasir Shah, who looked destined for greatness early on, has struggled in the latter part of his career, and it’s been tough to watch. In his debut year, 2014, Yasir had an impressive start, with 27 wickets at an average of 26.29 over just five matches. He followed that up in 2015 with a remarkable 49 wickets in seven matches at an average of 23, showcasing his potential as a top spinner.
However, in 2016, while he still took 46 wickets, his average ballooned to 38.69 over 10 matches, hinting at the inconsistency that would follow. By 2017, he managed 43 wickets but at a better average of 28.88, and 2018 saw him return to form with 38 wickets at an impressive average of 23.52.
But things began to shift in 2019 when he took only six wickets at a dismal average of 101.33 over four matches, marking a sharp decline. In 2020, his struggles continued, yielding 18 wickets at an average of 35.72, followed by eight wickets in 2021 at an average of 37.75. In 2022, he managed just nine wickets across two matches, with an average of 39.00.
As of October 14, 2024, the statistics for Pakistan’s spinners tell a troubling story. Noman Ali has taken 47 wickets in 28 innings, at an average of 33.06, making him the leading wicket-taker among Pakistani spinners in this period. Similarly, while Abrar Ahmed had a promising start, his performance in international cricket has been inconsistent: he took 39 wickets in 15 innings at an average of 37.71.

Yasir Shah, once a stalwart in the spin department, has been struggling with form and fitness, securing only 35 wickets in 18 innings at an average of 36.94, leaving a gaping hole in the team’s bowling arsenal.
The inconsistency in player selection is one of the foremost issues. From January 2020, the most matches played by any Pakistani spinner till Oct 14, 2024, are 15, by Noman Ali. Meanwhile, Yasir Shah has participated in only 10 matches, and Sajid Khan has featured in eight. The lack of continuity in selection has hindered the development of a cohesive spin attack, capable of competing at the highest level.
Moreover, pitches in Pakistan have not been conducive to spin bowling, even in home Tests. While spinners thrive in conditions that offer turn and bounce, many recent pitches have been flat and lifeless, negating the strengths of the bowling unit. For example, Zahid Mahmood made his debut against England in 2022 on a flat Rawalpindi surface, where he struggled and ended up conceding too many runs, leading to his exclusion from the team.
In conclusion, Pakistan’s journey from being an invincible force in home Tests to struggling for victories has been marked by a complex interplay of factors, particularly in the spin department. The legacy of successful spinners such as Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman set high expectations that today’s bowlers have yet to meet.
However, there are still high hopes for the future, with emerging talents such as Abrar Ahmed, and uncapped spinners Mehran Mumtaz and Arafat Minhas, who show great potential to make their mark in international cricket. Their development will be crucial in rejuvenating Pakistan’s spin bowling legacy.
As the team looks to move forward, it’s essential to nurture these young talents and create conducive conditions for spin bowling. While the management has faced challenges, fostering an environment that supports spinners’ growth will be vital in restoring Pakistan’s reputation as a formidable force in Test cricket.
The writer is a software engineer and cricket enthusiast. X: @abubakartarar_
Published in Dawn, EOS, October 20th, 2024