Tour to England: Australia vs. Pakistan Series 2010: A clash between two bowling giants
Two of the best bowling attacks in the cricketing world will face-off against each other when Pakistan faces http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760, where Australia had won a nail-biter in the last over. The Pakistanis will be looking to avenge that defeat. So what are the team strengths? Since day immemorial, Pakistan has been heavily dependent on their bowling prowess and skill. At the moment, both Pakistan and Australia have bowling attacks that have all the necessary ingredients of ripping apart any batting line-up of the world. Let’s take a look at individuals that will make the real difference in the upcoming series in England.
Shoaib Akhtar vs. Shaun Tait
The Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar and Australian prime pacer Shaun Tait will open the bowling for their respective teams. A combination of extreme pace, zipping bouncers, toe crushing yorkers and consistency is what both bowlers will have on display in England. Looking at the statistics of both these players, Shaun Tait holds a slight edge over Akhtar with a very strong T20 record. He has bagged 24 wickets in just 14 matches with a bowling average of 14.87. On the contrary, Shoaib Akhtar may not have played a lot of T20 cricket but his vast experience of test and ODI’s will give him an extra edge over his competitor. He has taken 8 wickets in the shortest format of cricket in just seven matches which do not present the complete picture of Akhtar’s calibre. At the moment, Shoaib Akhtar has been rested from test cricket and will only have the T20 series in England as a platform to flex his muscles. Shaun Tait on the other hand is full of confidence with a four wicket performance against England. Shoaib Akhtar on the other hand has to prove his fitness to the thousands of fans across Pakistan. However, as far as his bowling is concerned, the pace express from Rawalpindi has proved himself to be a ruthless bowler. A fit Shoaib Akhtar will definitely keep Australia on their toes while an unfit Shoaib might bring Pakistan to its knees.
Muhammad Aamer vs. Dirk Nannes
Muhammad Aamer in the last two years has developed a number of varieties as a fast bowler. He has remained fit and consistent in recent times due to which Pakistan’s pace attack depends on this young man. Aamer has developed a reputation as a bowler who is dependable, consistent and exciting. He is a captain’s dream who can bowl long spells, can bowl anytime during the innings and most importantly takes away crucial wickets. He recently created history by picking up five wickets in an over against Australia in the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean. On the contrary, Dirk Nannes was one the best, if not “the best” bowler of the recently concluded T20 World Cup in the West Indies. With his impressive bowling, Bollinger has managed to take 22 victims in 14 T20 matches in his career. He was the leading wicket taker in the T20 World Cup that took place in the Caribbean, picking up 14wickets at an average of 13.01 runs. Nannes will definitely like to repeat that in the games against Pakistan.
Umar Gul vs. James Hopes
If there was anything that Pakistan missed in the recent T20 World Cup, it was Umar Gul. He has become a T20 specialist for Pakistan. His deadly accurate yorkers have earned him a lot of respect from the cricketing world. Gul has successfully bowled yorkers, ball after ball and over after over. The bowling was the leading wicket taker in the T20 World Cup in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 in the T20 World Cup in England. Gul has taken an astounding number of 46 wickets in 26 matches in his T20 career till now. It will be important to see how good his comeback will be since his injury a few months back. If Umar Gul can prove his credentials with ball in England, he will surely be an asset for the team. On the contrary, James Hopes may not be a super star but though his performances, the player has successfully won a permanent position in the Australian side. His tight line and length along with a good variety allows him to save a number of boundaries in the death over’s. James Hopes is facing a lot of competition for a place in the Australian side. Through this series, Hopes will have to prove his worth yet again to cement his position in Australia’s national side.
Saeed Ajmal vs. Steven Smith
Saeed Ajmal still remembers the beating he took in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup at the hands of Michael Hussey. Saeed has a reputation of a player who is filled with fighting spirit and will have that beating in his mind. He will bounce back strongly as he has done on many occasions. Ajmal’s introduction to cricket came at the age of 30, which is not something that regularly happens in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/A-Young-c41367, enthusiastic cricketer and reminds everyone of Shane Warne. He comes into international cricket with some fantastic domestic performances where he will be a player to watch with the turning wickets in England.
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