Zaheer Khan – spearhead of India's pace attack
Zaheer Khan is a left-arm Indian pace bowler known for his ability to swing the ball both ways and performs remarkably on flat pitches of the subcontinent.
The pacer was born on 7th October, 1978, in Shrirampur Town of Ahmednagar District, Maharashtra state. He joined the Indian cricket team in 2000. Zaheer has played for several top teams – Team India, Mumbai, Mumbai Indians, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Worcestershire-c866 and the Royal Challengers
Bangalore. The left arm quickie has records in bowling as well as the batting department.
Zaheer holds the record for the highest score by a number 11 batsman in Test cricket. He scored 75 against Bangladesh in Dhaka in 2004.
The fast bowler has been spearheading the Indian pace attack since early 2000. Unfortunately, Zaheer had to suffer in the starting years of his career as he remained out of the Indian team in the year 2003, and 2004 due to hamstring injuries. After he rejoined
the team, he was again ruled out in late 2005. The 32-year-old pacer has several times been compared to bowling great http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wasim-Akram-c96292. He may not be as talented or skilled as Akram, but is certainly the most skilled pace bowler of India.
The player made his ODI debut against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kenya-c752 in Nairobi during the ICC Knock Out Trophy. Playing 182 One-Day Internationals, he has claimed 252 wickets at an average of 26.68 runs per wicket picking four wickets a match six times (four times against Zimbabwe),
including 32 wickets against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 at an average of 17.46 per wicket fall.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zaheer-Khan-c98452, along with some other fellow pacers, led India to the final of the ICC World Cup 2003. He earned a great name after becoming the fourth highest wicket-taker of the showpiece event of 2003. He picked 18 wickets from 11 matches at an average of
20 runs per dismissal.
Zaheer made his Test debut against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 in Dhaka in November 2000. He played 78 Test matches and claimed 271 wickets at an average of 31.94. He hit supreme form in Test cricket in 2002 and 2003. The seamer picked 54 wickets from 16 matches at an average
of 30 runs. These 16 matches were played between April 2002 and December 2003.
Zaheer Khan also picked up five top wickets while conceding 95 runs in his first Test against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 in December 2003. He got injured in the second Test. He missed the second Test and returned to play the third match, but picked up another injury and
was forced to return home early.
The injury prolonged till the early 2004, keeping him out of the tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 won. Zaheer is the fifth Indian bowler to achieve 250 wickets in Test cricket.
The player made his Twenty20 debut against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 at Bridgetown in May 2010.
Commenting on the pace bowler and his place in Team India, former Indian batsman and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar said, “Zaheer is the most dependable Indian seamer and one who the opposition respects. He will rarely have a bad day with the ball.”
The ICC World Cup 2011 that started on February 19, 2011, is Zaheer Khan’s third appearance in cricket’s biggest arena.
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