Fast Bowlers, Pakistan’s strongest suit (part 1)
Pakistan cricket is often termed as unpredictable. One thing is for sure in the world of uncertainty that Pakistan has never been short of quality fast bowlers. It is a rare constant in Pakistan cricket.
The land of the green is fertile, when it comes to producing great fast bowlers like, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Imran Khan, Shoaib Akhtar, and Fazal Mahmood.
Right from the start, when Pakistan played their first Test match, against India at Delhi on 8th October 1952, they had the services of legendary Fazal Mahmood. Fazal is regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers ever to grace the cricket pitch.
Fazal is regarded as Pakistan’s first great bowler. He had the ability to cut and seam the ball at a lively pace to trouble even the best in business. On artificial wickets, which were used in Pakistan, in the start of their Test career, Fazal was almost
unplayable. The great Australian batsman, Neil Harvey, once said, “Fazal could make the ball talk on matting”.
The matting master has a tremendous Test record. He was the first Pakistani to take 100 Test victims. Overall, In 34 Test matches; he has scalped 139 Test victims at a very impressive average of 24 with a best of 7/42 in a single innings, and 13/114 in
a match. His tally of 139 wickets includes 13 five-wicket-hauls, and 4 ten-wicket-hauls.
His home record is pretty impressive. At home, he has made 13 appearances, taking 65 wickets at an average of 18 with the best of 7/80. His tally of 65 wickets include 7 five-wicket- hauls. Away from home his numbers have suffered a bit due to the lack of
support from other bowlers.
Away from home, he has played 21 Test matches, and has taken 74 wickets at an average of 30 with the best of 7/42. His tally of 74 scalps includes 6 five-wicket-hauls.
He was the country’s biggest match winner when they started to play Test cricket. He has featured in 7 Test victories. In those 7 matches, he took 65 wickets at a breathtaking average of 10 with the best of 7/42. His 65 scalps include 9 five-wicket-hauls.
He was instrumental for Pakistan in achieving their Test status. He took 6/40 against the touring MCC in an unofficial Test match in 1952, which helped Pakistan to convince the governing body of cricket (MCC) that they are good enough to play Test cricket.
He was the chief architect of Pakistan’s first ever Test victory when Pakistan beat India at Lucknow in October 1952. This was also Pakistan’s first Test victory abroad.
He is most famous for his Oval heroics. On the inaugural tour of England, Fazal devastated the strong English batting line-up by taking 12 wickets in the match for just 95 runs. It helped Pakistan to level the four match Test series.
England was set a modest target of 167. In pursuit, they were moving along nicely at 109/2, they lost 8/34, courtesy of a brilliant bowling spell by Fazal Mahmood by taking 6/42 in the 2nd innings.
Fazal remains the torch bearer for his modern fast bowlers. A great chapter of Pakistan cricket ended when he died of a heart attack, at the age of 78 on the 30th of May 2005.
Imran Khan
Only a few would argue, about his credentials as the greatest cricketer, Pakistan has ever produced. After Fazal, he remains the 2nd greatest fast bowler Pakistan has ever produced.
Imran started his career as a medium pacer in 1971. His attitude was of a fast bowler. Whenever he was hit for a boundary, his temperatures use to boil up. So, from an ordinary medium pacer he turned himself into one of the most complete and prolific fast
bowlers the world has ever seen by the virtue of sheer hard work, and great dedication.
He had everything, prodigious swing, cut, pace, bounce and a great bowling brain. He learned the art of reverse swing from his partner Sarfraz, and took it to new heights.
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