Top 5 Number 5s in Tests for Pakistan

They may be known as the nation of mystical fast bowlers giving batsmen nightmares with their reverse swing and spinners who can make the best batting line-ups look like novices, but at the same time, Pakistan have also produced their fair share of outstanding batsmen.

Despite their bowling riches, Pakistan have always had excellent batsmen and many of them have been middle-order maestros, who have gone on to become greats of the game. The number 5 positions is a particularly key position and many of Pakistan's great batsmen have batted there.

So, here is a look at 5 of the finest, although one of Pakistan's greatest, Javed Miandad missed out since he did not bat at number 5 (average 54.37 in 31 Tests) for too many games.

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#5 Saleem Malik

The former Pakistan captain, who made his debut over a month short of his 19th birthday, went on to become one of the best middle-order batsmen for his country. Salim Malik played 102 Tests for Pakistan between 1982 and 1999 and out of those, he batted at number 5 in 45 of them.

Malik was a highly gifted batsman, who was particularly well known for his ability to hit horizontal bat shots against the faster bowlers and in addition to that, he had the ability to use his wrists to good effect to anything pitched on the middle or leg stumps. However, he is best known for his prowess against spin bowling and according to many, he was the first batsman who dominated Shane Warne back in 1994.

He is the 5th highest run scorer among number 5 batsmen for Pakistan with a total 1928 runs in 45 Tests at an average of 37.80, which is modest for such a fine batsman. He made 5 centuries and 9 half-centuries at the position.

#4 Zaheer Abbas

Zaheer Abbas

The former Pakistani player was one of the true greats of batsmanship in the 1970s and the 1980s and was known for making big centuries. Zaheer Abbas played 78 Test matches for Pakistan from 1969 to 1985 and went on to become one of the most prolific scorers in the country's history.

He played at number 5 in 35 Tests and stamped his class as a middle-order order batsman whenever he was asked to bat there. His batting was centred around scintillating, elegant stroke-making that often left the most seasoned bowlers helpless and it was not for nothing that he had been given the epithet 'Asian Bradman'.

The effortlessness and grace with which he batted made him one of the era's most watchable players. Abbas scored runs consistently as well and in the 35 games in which he played at number 5, he made 2048 runs at an average of 53.89. He hit 6 centuries and 7 half-centuries during his stint at number 5.

#3 Misbah-ul-Haq

Misbah-ul-Haq

The man who became one of Pakistan's most influential captains in its modern Test cricket history was also one of the team's most important batsmen and Misbah-ul-Haq's role as the team's middle-order glue cannot be overstated. He might have debuted in 2001 but spent many years in the wilderness before making it back to the Test team and in the 75 Test matches that he played, Misbah batted at number 5 in 69 of them.

Although he was capable of playing a range of strokes, he became better known for his dogged defensive batting and refusal to give away his wicket. Needless to say, Misbah's defensive game was right up there with the very best but when needed he could open up as well and that was evident when he smashed a 56 ball century against Australia at Abu Dhabi back in 2014-15.

He is the highest run scorer for Pakistan at number 5 with an aggregate of 4643 runs at an excellent average of 50.46. He made 10 centuries and as many as 35 half-centuries while batting at the position.

#2 Inzamam-ul-Haq

Inzamam-ul-Haq

He is arguably Pakistan's greatest modern batsman and in a Test career that spanned around 14 years from 1993 to 2007, the majestic Inzamam-ul-Haq was his nation's best batsmen during the majority of that period. He played in 120 Test matches for Pakistan and out of those, he played at number 5 in 39 of them.

The most important thing about Inzamam's batting was that he seemed to have a lot of time when he faced up to the fastest bowlers in the world and considering his prowess as a stroke-maker, he proved to be extremely damaging when in full flow. He was equally superb against spin bowling and it was quite rare for him to be flummoxed by any spinner.

The only possible weakness that Inzamam had as a batsman was that he was a poor runner between the wickets and he was often responsible for hilarious mix-ups. However, as a number 5, he was excellent and in those 39 games, he made 2144 runs at an average of 51.04 and scored 6 centuries, in addition to 14 half-centuries.

#1 Mohammad Yousuf

Mohammad Yousuf

The elegant right-hander made his Test debut for Pakistan in 1998 and quickly became one of the mainstays of the middle-order over the course of the next 12 years. Mohammad Yousuf played in 90 Test matches for Pakistan and batted at number 5 in 52 of those. He went on to become the second most prolific run scorer in the position for Pakistan with an aggregate of 3774 runs.

He was one of the most elegant batsmen in world cricket during his time and in addition to that, he had the drive to score big whenever he strode out to bat. He had the defensive technique to face up to any bowler and in addition that, he was one of the best players of spin in world cricket.

Yousuf was particularly ruthless to anything outside off and was partial towards playing to square or behind square at most times. As a number 5, he averaged an excellent 53.15 and notched up as many as 13 centuries, in addition to 19 half-centuries.