Showing posts with label pace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pace. Show all posts

Monday, February 13, 2012

Pakistan vs England Test Series Review - The Seamers



Umar Gul 7/10 - Two fine spells in the series, in the 3rd innings of the 1st test and in the fourth innings of the final test where Gul bagged 4 wickets to bowl Pakistan to victory on the same day. Had Gul not overstepped the front line during the 3rd day of the opening test the spearhead of the attack would have claimed a well deserved 5 wicket haul. Gul's role was limited in Abu Dhabi where 19 of the 20wickets fell to spin, but his pace managed to trap Bell in front with the 2nd new ball when Bell was looking it nice touch in that innings, managed to club a ball out of the mark to extend the lead and also held on to the winning catch of a historic win at deep square leg. Gul did the bulk of the work in the fast bowling department in tough conditions for pacers and delivered when needed as the senior bowler in the ranks.

Junaid Khan / Aizaz Cheema - Limited bowling for both of them so I won't be grading them. Junaid bagged a pair and dropped a sitter in Abu Dhabi and disappointed when he came in to replace at the time injured Aizaz Cheema. Cheema only conceded 70 runs in 4 innings of bowling which is a reflection of how little he was used and needed by Misbah. Cheema went Not Out in all his 3 innings.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Cheema's Dream Debut

Aizaz Cheema's bowling in match (8 wickets for 103 runs) are second best figures by a Pakistan bowler on his Test debut. Cheema replaced Mohammad Sami, who took 8 wickets for 106 runs against New Zealand in 2001, at number two.

Best figures by a Pakistan bowler are 11 wickets for 130 runs by Mohammad Zahid against New Zealand at Rawalpindi in 1996. And last Pakistan bowler to take 8 wickets on his Test debut was Abdur Rehman against South Africa in 2007.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Pool Of Pace Bowlers Available In Pakistan That I Rate

Pool of pace bowlers

Recognised

Wahab Riaz
Umar Gul

New Comers

Junaid Khan
Aizaz Cheema
Sohail Khan

Bowling All Rounders with Domestic Experience

Sohail Tanvir
Yasir Arafat
Rana Naved

Domestic Rookies

Anwar Ali
Sadaf Hussain
Mohammad Rameez
Mohammad Talha
Asad Ali

- 4 or 5 of these bowlers should be included in the final 15 or 16 man squad for 2012 T20 WC

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Gul or Riaz?

Similar type of bowlers..Not ideal opening bowlers...hit the deck stuff and specialists at the death

No mugs with the bat in hand either.

Both around the same age.

Key bowlers for Pakistan in current era.

Who is better?

Riaz has an extra yard of pace

He can reverse the ball more prodigiously when he gets it right

Has more variation is his armoury

Performed better on the bigger stage..has nerves of steel

Gul is more consistent with getting the ball in the block hole in the latter stages of the innings

He isn’t anywhere near as wayward in terms of wides and front foot no balls

Riaz seems to have more venom and firepower about him although he can send down stinking erratic filth too frequently

Batting wise Riaz edges it

From what we have seen Riaz seems to be a better option, but it’s still early days in his career. Gul is still a top class fast bowler when on song nonetheless and right up there with the likes of Malinga, Steyn, Zak even. I have higher hopes for Wahab, but he is one of those bowlers whom with you never know whats coming your way.

Hopefully both step up after serving their rest for the Zimbabwe tour