Posted by Younus Khan’s just made his third Test hundred on the bounce. We mentioned that he was underrated after the first one. Let’s revisit that.
We all know Younus averages some way north of 50 and that he’s now made Test hundreds against every nation, but let’s dig a little deeper. Last time we mentioned that only 19 of his 93 Tests have been played truly at home and that hints at what’s so great about him. He’s adaptable.
The first of this trio of hundreds saw him construct non-scoring foundations for his innings. Since then, he’s become ever-more expansive. This third hundred came off 128 balls.
But it’s conditions as well. Not only has Younus scored a hundred against every Test-playing nation, he’s also scored one in every country bar Australia, where he’s only played three matches. Only in South Africa and the West Indies does he average less than 40 and only in the Windies does he average less than 30. There are always gaps and that’s some CV.
Attack!
Midway through our Cricinfo piece about how Pakistan and Australia have prepared for this Test, we poked fun at Australia’s tendency to believe that their success is directly linked to how attacking they are. It was therefore quite amusing to see that they’d tweaked their team and brought Glenn Maxwell in to bat at number three.
Maybe it’ll work.
Murali’s balls
YouTube can make wasters of us all, but every now and again a long shift is justified when you catch a glimpse of what must rank as being one of the all-time great cricket banners.
That banner is genius. Well spotted yer maj.
The best Younis stat is that he now averages over 50 in all four innings, which is a feature that puts him in the company of Bradman, Sutcliffe and no one else since.
First-rate stat!
By way of contrast, Steve Waugh averaged 62 in the first innings of a match, 58 in the second, 35 in the third and 25 in the fourth, where he hit just two fifties in 31 innings.
Top starting.
Should read – top statting. Your majesty I beseech a proclamation that “statting” should be added to all autocorrect dictionaries forthwith.
Bitterly disappointing piece today, KC. What has got into you?
No double vowel errors. No misspelt names.
I can’t spake. None of us can spake.
You could argue that there are many countries where Younus has not made a century, Italy is an obvious one.
I admit I had to look up the meaning ofPooBert:- A glowing white girl with bright orange hair that continuously wins the peuter medal (last place) at the board game “sorry.” –
According to the Urban Dictionary, related terms include Donkey Dick.
I’m saying no more.
Are you old enough to remember Muffin the Mule?
I’m glad Younis is getting runs, especially in light of his dummy spit at the PCB recently. Under previous boards he would have received a ‘life ban’ (for a few months or years at least), however the current lot took his criticism on the chin and got on with trying to win matches. Could it be that the PCB has turned the corner in terms of rational behaviour?
This thread seems to be heading to a very dark, unsavoury place.
Call me old fashioned, but the seedy juxtapositions and innuendos in some of the phrases have no place on a civilised, thoughtful cricket web site.
“PCB…rational behaviour” – wolf you should hang your head in shame.
Thinking about it any cricket board and rational behaviour is an oxymoron. However, I’m trying to think of another example where a player can publicly criticise selection policy and not face any discliplinary action.
Kevin Pieters… oh no, hold on.
A double hundred for Younis now, and a single one for Misbah (although he’s out).
Younis Khan is an anagram of SHAKY UNION. Given the partnerships he’s been involved in so far in this series (108, 83, 168, 47*, 236, 181) that is testament to the predictive power of anagram-analysis.
“A Noisy Hunk”. Given his physical build and his recent tantrums, this describes Younis perfectly.
Down with PooBert and his anagram-analysis-shaming ways, I say.
Well he is inclined TO PROBE.