The greatest left arm fast bowler (career statistics part 6)
His performance in only his 2nd Test at Dunedin marked the start of a glorious career. Later he took 7 wickets against West Indies at Barbados. Pakistan again lost the match by two wickets in a thrilling encounter.
In the first 5 years of his career from 1985 to 1990, he only managed 94 wickets at a modest average of 28 with a strike rate of 65 in 28 Test matches. His 94 wickets included 5 five-wicket-hauls.
But his best years were yet to come. On the Australian tour in 1990 he started to flourish. Match figures of 11/160 at MCG set up the start of his best years.
Akram was at his peak from 1990 to 1997. He picked up 240 wickets in 48 Test matches at a breathtaking average of 20 with a strike rate of 46. His tallies of 240 wickets include 16 five-wicket-hauls. It is the best record for a fast bowler in these years.
There were bowlers like, Allan Donald, Curtly Ambrose, Glenn McGrath, Courtney Walsh and Waqar Younis. Only Waqar has a better strike rate of 40.
His figures dulled a bit in the last years of his career. This was due to diabetes, or injuries. From 1998 onwards he only managed 80 wickets in 27 test matches at an average of 28 with the strike of 28. His tally of 80 wickets included a single five-wicket
haul.
The left-arm Champion has 17 man-of-the-match awards in just 104 Test matches. This is the highest frequency for a player in Test match cricket.
Amazingly, Wasim Akram has been the greatest catch for Pakistan. He took part in 41 Test wins. In those 41 wins Akram has an amazing record. He made 211 strikes at an average of 18 with a strike rate of 42. His match winning tally of wickets includes 13
five-wicket-hauls, and 2 ten-wicket-hauls.
Akram developed the art of bowling on grassless pitches, like most bowlers do in Pakistan. He knew that mastering the art of reverse swing is essential to success in the Subcontinent. He is among the best fast bowlers in cricket. In all, he has played 57
matches in the Subcontinent. He has picked up 211 wickets at an impressive average of 22 with the strike of 52. Only Waqar Younis and Imran Khan have a better record.
Along with Waqar Younis, the two W’s formed a potent fast bowling combination. With Waqar he has played 61 Test matches, picking up 282 wickets at a very impressive average of 21 with a strike rate of 49. His 282 wickets include 20 five-wicket-hauls.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wasim-Akram-c96292 is the 2nd highest wicket in World cups, next only to Glenn McGrath’s 71. His ODI career meant much more. He has taken part in 199 wins. His 326 wickets at an average of 18 have come in winning matches. Wasim has 22 man-of-the-match
awards in ODIs. Along with Shaun Pollock, he is the only player to take 22 man-of-the-match awards.
Captaincy didn’t come to him naturally. He was a leader more than a tactician. His first stint as a captain was a disaster. He still has one of the best ratios for a player who has led http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755. In 25 matches he has played as a captain, has won 12 of them
and lost 8. A series win in England, and at home, against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760, and an Asian Test championship are the hall marks of his captaincy. Pakistan’s last Test victory Down Under came under his captaincy.
This left arm aggressor has the best record for Pakistan as an ODI captain. Playing in 109 ODIs, he has won 66 of them. His reign included a triangular series win in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746.
According to Sir Donald Bradman, “The greatest Left fast Bowler in the history of the game”.
Imran Khan, “Wasim Akram and Michael Holding are the most natural bowlers he had ever seen”.
Allan Border was once asked about his rebirth as a cricketer. He replied’ “If ever get a chance to reborn as a cricketer, I would want to become Wasim”.
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