http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Saeed-Ajmal-c87859 - ICC Awards - Why omit him? - Part 2 – Opinion
Continued from Part 1...
The remarkable aspect about Ajmal however, is that he continues to perform well in all formats of the game. His exploits are visible in the T20, Test match and ODI arena, which is rare for spinners, who are often put to the sword in one format and concentrate
on another. Ajmal is also not a bowler who could be confined to a particular format. He bowls with the same flare, the same whirl and the same deployment of diabolical deliveries, no matter what the format. Batsmen who aim to defend or attack him, are often
left bamboozled over what has hit them. This also holds true for players who have been in their best form and continue to pepper opposition bowlers for boundaries.
English batsmen are probably the best examples of formidable players, who had succumbed to the wizardry of Saeed Ajmal after being in fine form in recent times. Players such as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Prior-c1984 were snared by Ajmal
in the 2011 English tour to the Emirates, after stringing in a strong set of performances in the lead up to their encounter against Pakistan. Similarly, players who are relatively new to cricket had also fallen prey to Ajmal’s canny variations, and some of
them have even had their careers destroyed by the mastery of this gifted off spinner. In light of this, form becomes immaterial in a clash of such proportions. With a man capable of wreaking havoc on any day, any time, the balance shifts towards his side quite
dramatically.
Ajmal can also be credited for making spin s**y again in a land which has traditionally been dominated by fast bowlers. It was because of him that previously disheartened Pakistani cricket fans now flock to stadiums all around the world to watch him bowl,
and often bowl Pakistan to victory. He is also an untainted figure in the abyss of skepticism and speculation. Never is he seen going overboard with his celebrations or being involved in raucous confrontations with any of the opposition players. He has however,
been at the receiving end of criticism by former players such as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Robert-Andrew-Woolmer-c85587, over the legality of his action. Yet such comments fail to fluster a bowler of Ajmal’s caliber, who continues to deliver for his team.
His average, stands at a startling 27.09 in Test cricket and he has managed to snare an astonishing 122 wickets in 23 matches for his side. A record that stands out however seems to do little justice to what this spinner from Pakistan has offered to world
cricket as a whole. As a Test cricketer, he is nearly indispensable for his team, and without his prowess in the bowling attack, Pakistan seem like a mediocre outfit that can be beaten by any opposition. His presence however, uplifts the spirits of a team
like http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 Test Cricketer of the Year. It is simply implausible, and it is fair to say that conspiracy
theorists would be l*****g their http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mitchell-Claydon-c1973.
Disclaimer: Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely of the author and do not represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy
Tags: