By Among the world’s top 10 fast bowlers of the post-1970s era, at least three fast bowlers from Pakistan would find their place. What makes Pakistan develop the unique capability of producing quality pace bowlers with amazing regularity?
Though Fazal Mahmood, who played test cricket between 1952 to 1962, was the first great fast bowler to come out from Pakistan, Imran Khan and Sarafraz Nawaz probably sparked the pace-bowling legacy in Pakistan.
This rich legacy was ably carried forward by fast-bowling legends like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, then by the pace tornado Shoaib Akhtar, the highly talented Mohammad Asif, Umar Gul, Mohammad Amir, Shaheen Afridi, and others.
Leading the Show
Probably one of the greatest captains to have played this great game, the former PM of Pakistan, Imran Khan, took 362 wickets in 88 test matches with 23 five-wicket or more hauls in a test innings.
As a cricketer, he would be as much remembered for his leading Pakistan to win the 1992 World Cup through his inspiring leadership and for his tremendous performance as an all-rounder on the field as he would be for nurturing and grooming the fast-bowling legend Wasim Akram.
The Great Swing Exponents
Wasim Akram, justifiably regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in cricket till now, took 414 wickets in 104 tests with 25 five-wicket or more hauls in a test innings, but these statistics cannot do full justice to the way The Sultan of Swing thoroughly dominated the batsmen of varying talents across the cricketing world. Even the batting legend Brian Lara said, “Over my 15 or 16 years of playing international cricket in Tests and One Day Internationals, Wasim Akram is definitely the most outstanding bowler I have ever faced.” Ricky Ponting also wrote in his autobiography that “Wasim Akram’s ability to swing the new & old ball at high speed was second to none.”
The first bowler to take 500 wickets in ODIs (502 wickets in 356 ODIs) and till now holding the record of having the most wickets in ODIs as a seamer, Akram played a crucial role in Pakistan’s World Cup win where he bowled Alan Lamb and Chris Lewis in successive deliveries in the final, which was probably the turning point of the match. Earlier in the innings, he dismissed Ian Botham for a duck.
Whether Waqar Younis or Wasim Akram is the best fast bowler from Pakistan till now is a matter of debate. Younis, who also intimidated batsmen worldwide with his awesome pace and skill, took 373 wickets in 87 tests with 22 five or more wickets haul in a test innings. If Akram’s test bowling average was an awe-inspiring 23.62, Younis’s was an even more impressive 23.56. However, there is no denying the fact that these two were instrumental in giving Pakistan many of its memorable cricketing triumphs.
Though Akram and Younis developed mastery of reverse swing, which was one of their chief arsenals with old balls to intimidate the batsmen across the cricketing world during the 1990s, it was Sarafraz Nawaz who first invented this innovative bowling style in a test match against India. Often hidden under the limelight of Imran Khan, Sarafraz played a key role in Pakistan’s first test series triumphs over India and England. He was a very intelligent pace bowler who took 177 test wickets in 55 tests with four five-wicket or more hauls in a test innings.
New Talents
Pakistan’s rich legacy of producing pace bowling talents has continued unabated since the 1970s, and in recent years, Shaheen Afridi, with 113 wickets in 29 tests, has shown great promise to dominate world cricket with his fast-bowling prowess. On 31 October of last year, he achieved the distinction of reaching 100 wickets in ODIs in his 51st ODI, being the fastest Pakistani to achieve the feat. Till now, he has 104 wickets in 53 ODIs.
In the earlier decade, too, Mohammad Asif, with his penetrative medium-fast bowling, achieved great success in his short international cricket career, which was marred by a spot-fixing scandal. In 23 tests that he played, he took 103 wickets, with seven five-wicket or more wicket hauls in an innings. Taking five or more wickets seven times in an inning in 23 tests is a jaw-dropping feat.
The Reason Behind
Many cricket experts and laypersons have been intrigued by the question of how Pakistan has been producing great pace bowlers in every decade since the 1970s. Some attribute it to their meat-heavy diet, while others attribute it to their rich legacy and tough and aggressive nature, but perhaps the most scientific reason is Pakistan’s culture of using the tape ball in local cricket.
A tape ball is nothing but a tennis ball wrapped in electrical tape to make it heavier, which is much more suitable for pace rather than spin bowlers. It is difficult (but not at all impossible) to see the emergence of great spinners through playing with heavy tape balls because this format discourages spin bowling.
But at the same time, if you opt to bowl quickly, you need to develop a quick arm action and strong shoulders to generate pace with a light tennis ball. So, we can see that the local sporting culture in Pakistan encourages players who want to become pace bowlers to become really good at their craft.
Moreover, pace bowlers are idolised in Pakistan, like star batsmen in India. This also encourages many aspiring youngsters to try their hand at pace bowling and excel in it.
