After scoring his 32nd first-class century, Left-handed batsman, Fawad Alam has finally spoken up after being ignored from the national selection over and over.
In a press conference after the ton, Fawad attributed personal liking and disliking as the reason for his non-selection in the national side.
Fawad now boasts an average of over 55 in 162 first-class matches, scoring a mammoth 11,830 runs in 255 innings. For reference, this is the highest ever first-class average by a Pakistani and he is accompanied by all-time greats in the list. However, others on the list like Steven Smith, Virat Kohli, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Mosaddek Hussain are all playing for their countries at the highest level.
Despite all the disappointment over the years, Fawad is focused and hopeful of a comeback.
I think liking or disliking is part of life and career. It happens everywhere in life. Even at your home, there are favorites in the family. But players must stay focused.
The 34-year-old added that he keeps getting dropped for different reasons, and he doesn’t have the answers to those questions.
Sometimes it becomes so difficult when a player has been neglected but I have to keep myself motivated because cricket is my bread and butter. Besides, what else would I do if I quit cricket?
Without further ado, let’s have a look at the list of all-time highest batting averages in first-class cricket.
| Player | Span | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | 100 | 50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DG Bradman | 1927-1949 | 234 | 338 | 43 | 28067 | 452* | 95.14 | 117 | 69 |
| VM Merchant | 1929-1951 | 150 | 234 | 46 | 13470 | 359* | 71.64 | 45 | 52 |
| GA Headley | 1927-1954 | 103 | 164 | 22 | 9921 | 344* | 69.86 | 33 | 44 |
| AK Sharma | 1984-2001 | 129 | 166 | 16 | 10120 | 259* | 67.46 | 38 | 36 |
| WH Ponsford | 1920-1934 | 162 | 235 | 23 | 13819 | 437 | 65.18 | 47 | 43 |
| WM Woodfull | 1921-1934 | 174 | 245 | 39 | 13388 | 284 | 64.99 | 49 | 58 |
| P Nissanka (SL) | 2016-2019 | 27 | 50 | 6 | 2817 | 217 | 64.02 | 10 | 10 |
| SS Sugwekar | 1987-2002 | 85 | 122 | 18 | 6563 | 299* | 63.10 | 19 | 26 |
| KC Ibrahim | 1938-1950 | 60 | 89 | 12 | 4716 | 250 | 61.24 | 14 | 22 |
| GH Vihari (IND) | 2010-2019 | 76 | 120 | 15 | 6282 | 302* | 59.82 | 19 | 30 |
| VG Kambli | 1989-2005 | 129 | 181 | 14 | 9965 | 262 | 59.67 | 35 | 44 |
| SPD Smith (AUS) | 2008-2019 | 126 | 221 | 26 | 11453 | 239 | 58.73 | 42 | 47 |
| VS Hazare | 1934-1967 | 238 | 367 | 46 | 18740 | 316* | 58.38 | 60 | 73 |
| AL Hassett | 1932-1953 | 216 | 322 | 32 | 16890 | 232 | 58.24 | 59 | 75 |
| SS Bhave | 1986-2001 | 97 | 154 | 17 | 7971 | 292 | 58.18 | 28 | 27 |
| SR Tendulkar | 1988-2013 | 310 | 490 | 51 | 25396 | 248* | 57.84 | 81 | 116 |
| DS Lehmann | 1987-2007 | 284 | 479 | 33 | 25795 | 339 | 57.83 | 82 | 111 |
| Mosaddek Hossain (BD) | 2014-2019 | 39 | 61 | 7 | 3097 | 282 | 57.35 | 11 | 11 |
| MG Bevan | 1989-2006 | 237 | 400 | 66 | 19147 | 216 | 57.32 | 68 | 81 |
| AF Kippax | 1918-1936 | 175 | 256 | 33 | 12762 | 315* | 57.22 | 43 | 45 |
| G Boycott | 1962-1986 | 609 | 1014 | 162 | 48426 | 261* | 56.83 | 151 | 238 |
| RG Sharma (IND) | 2006-2019 | 90 | 141 | 16 | 7091 | 309* | 56.72 | 23 | 30 |
| SS Karim | 1982-2001 | 120 | 168 | 39 | 7310 | 234 | 56.66 | 22 | 33 |
| CL Walcott | 1941-1964 | 146 | 238 | 29 | 11820 | 314* | 56.55 | 40 | 54 |
| KS Ranjitsinhji | 1893-1920 | 307 | 500 | 62 | 24692 | 285* | 56.37 | 72 | 109 |
| RB Simpson | 1952-1978 | 257 | 436 | 62 | 21029 | 359 | 56.22 | 60 | 100 |
| WR Hammond | 1920-1951 | 634 | 1005 | 104 | 50551 | 336* | 56.10 | 167 | 185 |
| MD Crowe | 1979-1996 | 247 | 412 | 62 | 19608 | 299 | 56.02 | 71 | 80 |
| RT Ponting | 1992-2013 | 289 | 494 | 62 | 24150 | 257 | 55.90 | 82 | 106 |
| Fawad Alam (PAK) | 2003-2019 | 162 | 255 | 43 | 11830 | 296* | 55.80 | 32 | 59 |
| UM Merchant | 1938-1951 | 42 | 55 | 5 | 2789 | 217 | 55.78 | 9 | 12 |
| L Hutton | 1934-1955 | 513 | 814 | 91 | 40140 | 364 | 55.51 | 129 | 177 |
| ED Weekes | 1944-1964 | 152 | 241 | 24 | 12010 | 304* | 55.34 | 36 | 54 |
| R Dravid | 1990-2012 | 298 | 497 | 67 | 23794 | 270 | 55.33 | 68 | 117 |
| SV Manjrekar | 1984-1998 | 147 | 217 | 31 | 10252 | 377 | 55.11 | 31 | 46 |
| GS Sobers | 1952-1974 | 383 | 609 | 93 | 28314 | 365* | 54.87 | 86 | 121 |
| V Kohli (IND) | 2006-2019 | 114 | 187 | 17 | 9315 | 254* | 54.79 | 33 | 30 |
It is amazing to see that Fawad ranks above Virat Kohli in the list. Sri Lanka’s Pathun Nissanka is only 21 years old and he is yet to play for the national team at the highest level.
Other Pakistani players are way behind him in the domestic circuit which raises questions about the selection policies. The only two Pakistanis in the list are all-time greats, Javed Miandad and Hanif Mohammad, which shows how poorly Fawad Alam has been treated by the national selectors. He last played for Pakistan in 2015, and it remains to be seen whether he will get another go or not.
Pakistan is set to play its first match of the Test Championship against Australia from 21-25 November. The next series is against Sri Lanka which starts from 11th December at home soil.
Do you think he deserves a chance in the national team? Let us know in the comments section.
He was tested long time ago and he could not convert his domestic success into international success. Same as Ahmad Shezad and Umar Akmal.
There is a huge difference in our domestic cricket and international cricket. (Standard wise. Some players lack the playing skills while some lack the mental skills to coupe with international pressure)
Few can take their local success to international arena.
How many times he has been tested in test matches? Did you bother looking at it?
Pakistan has lost great players because of this liking and unlikings. We should now start learning from these blunders so merit stays on top and irrespective what city players are from they should learn to play for greater cause, their country.
He just scored a century and had a nice run in England last year. In his last series he was played once and then replaced with Salman Butt and Faisal Iqbal. Therefore there is no question that he has been overlooked. Also, for a player who plays 4-5 down and still able to get runs is an incredible feat. Although, Pakistanis would never accept him as they deem him weird looking and the most common reason being that he has an awful batting style.
He should be given at least a chance like Ahmad Shezad and Umar Akmal despite both these players never performed.
@Such, check his test match average and highest score in the 3 matches that he was given a chance in. Nobody is asking him to be played in T20 but he does have excellent credentials for test match cricket and should have been given a chance ahead of the likes of Shan Masood and Ifthikhar.
in my opinion, he is best test batsman in pakistan along with Azhar Ali and Babar Azam
yes he should definitely get chance, he is an all time performer why is he getting ignored?? In sports there shouldnt be any likings or dislikings, give chance to those who deserves.