'Misbah, what have you done, again?'
Five times in the past 12 months, the usually unflappable Pakistan captain has been dismissed playing careless shots
ESPNcricinfo staff
05-Jan-2017
Misbah-ul-Haq's failed slog-sweep against Nathan Lyon in Sydney extended a string of uncharacteristic dismissals for Pakistan's captain • AFP
At 42, Misbah-ul-haq, Pakistan's Test captain, has to constantly face questions about when he will retire. In the past 12 months, a period in which he has scored 561 runs in 11 Tests at an average of 31.16, his critics have been armed with a series of seeming lapses of concentration that have led to ugly dismissals. This is how ESPNcricinfo's ball-by-ball commentators recorded those moments of madness.
Misbah c Bird b Lyon 18 - 3rd Test v Australia, Sydney, January 2017
Pakistan (1st innings) 178 for 3, trail by 360
Lyon to Misbah-ul-Haq, OUT, oh no. Misbah, what have you done, again? He always wanted to tee off against the spin of Lyon. Flat delivery with a bit of drift, it doesn't stop Misbah. He goes down on one knee and aims for a heave over midwicket, in typical Misbah style. Like he did against Moeen in the England summer, he mistimes one. Hangs in the air for a while. Bird circles around the catch but settles underneath and completes an easy catch.
Misbah c Maddinson b Lyon 0 - 2nd Test v Australia, Melbourne, December 2016
Pakistan (2nd innings) 68 for 3, trying to save the game
Lyon to Misbah-ul-Haq, OUT, what is Misbah up to? This is poor Test-match batting. Premeditation. Big-time premeditation. Sweeping everything. And the bounce for Lyon does him in. He sweeps this from outside off but is nowhere close to it, leaving himself prone to the bounce. The top edge is gobbled up at short fine leg.
Misbah c Boult b Southee 13 - 1st Test v New Zealand, Christchurch, November 2016
Pakistan (2nd innings) 93 for 3, lead by 26
Southee to Misbah-ul-Haq, OUT, what a rush of blood from Misbah! Six runs off the previous two balls and Southee gives him the bouncer from over the wicket, Misbah responds with the hook and gets a top edge. Boult is waiting on the long-leg boundary to catch the Pakistan captain. Pakistan 93 for 4, effectively 26 for 4
Misbah c Bishoo b Chase 4 - 3rd Test v West Indies, Sharjah, October 2016
Pakistan (2nd innings) 48 for 3, trail by 8
Chase to Misbah-ul-Haq, OUT, they're committing hara-kiri or what? This was a long hop and Misbah has pulled it to the lone man at deep backward square leg. It was short and sitting up for him to pull it wherever he pleased, Misbah rocked back and found the hands of Bishoo, who moved low to his right to complete the catch. Misbah can't believe what he's just done. Chase can't believe his luck. He has a wry smile on his face. What is happening in Sharjah?
Misbah c Hales b Ali 0 - 1st Test v England, Lord's, July 2016
Pakistan 60 for 3 (2nd innings), lead by 127
Ali to Misbah-ul-Haq, OUT, Misbah attacks, slogged into the leg side... and Hales takes a brilliant catch running along the deep midwicket boundary! HUGE wicket for England and a little bit of revenge for Moeen, who tossed it up in the knowledge he had a man out there, encouraged Misbah to go after him and gets his reward. Lord's erupts!