Fast bowling talent - Asif and others

[Maranello]

After the performances by Najaf Shah, M Asif, M Irshad and Yasir Arafat against England and in the previous warm-up games, the future of Pakistan's pace bowling seems bright. There seems to be a lot of competition for places in the Test XI, with all five in the first choice quintet of Shoaib Akhtar, Sami, Shabbir Ahmed, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Umar Gul in the running. Even better, there seems to be some excellent and young back-up to these five, in case of injury.

CMJ, writing in The Times today, had this to say about Asif after watching him in the Pakistan-A v England match:

The manner in which Mohammad Asif in particular took his chance to reassert his claims to a Test place yesterday was impressive confirmation of the depths of sheer, bubbling cricket talent that well up from all parts of Pakistan. Tall, slimmish and lissom, with a rocking action from the old, sideways-on school, Asif looks such a natural that one feels that if he were to lose his run-up halfway to the pitch, he would still hit the crease at the right moment and bowl the ball at a healthy lick. At 22, with one Test appearance so far, it was easy to see why Bob Woolmer rates him highly and he will play more Test cricket soon, provided that he builds the strength necessary to withstand hard work.

He kept going well for his seven wickets yesterday after Shahid Nazir, shorter but no less slippery, had started the ball rolling with the help of the first of three catches at third slip by Shahid Yousuf. Both the opening bowlers kept mainly to a good or full length and so good was their line that Hasan Raza, the captain, was able to give them seven men on the off side most of the time. More often than not, there were three slips and a gully.

High praise indeed, but not a surprise to those who have been following Woolmer's thoughts on the matter. In fact, CMJ himself quoted Woolmer in an article a few days ago (before Asif's heroics in the A-team match), saying that Woolmer described Mohammad Asif, as a fast bowler “with something special about him”.

Of course, one must strike a note of caution; similarly optimistic pronouncements have been made about M. Sami for the past two years, by Woolmer and others, and he has not delivered. In fact, there have been countless fast-bowling (and batting, come to think of it) stars, who have shined briefly and very brightly when they were 20, but have all but burnt out in the next few years. For every Wasim Akram, there are countless Zahids and Samis.

[Orchid]

Originally Posted by Maranello

In fact, there have been countless fast-bowling (and batting, come to think of it) stars, who have shined briefly and very brightly when they were 20, but have all but burnt out in the next few years. For every Wasim Akram, there are countless Zahids and Samis.

Many faded away mainly becuase they were rushed into the international arena before they were ready. And let's not write off Sami yet, he still has age on his side and hasn't had a chance to show whether his improved showing during the the series against India was a fluke or the real thing.

[Captain]

I know this is old but really if Shoaib Akhtar was out it would open up one spot onthe team for someone to cement, and if some others are not playing well let others come in.

[Mike]

Woolmer said in his article:

“They can all play really well.” “It is just a question of sorting out which of them have the temperament and special skill to become consistent Test cricketers.”

I wonder whether some players develop that temperament later than others? I can't believe so many talented cricketers fail to make the grade. It's tempting to rush young players into the side but I wonder whether it would be better to give them more time at A level?

I like Australia's system of keeping Test players going into their thirties because it allows the next generation to reach their mid-twenties before introducing them to the cauldron of Test cricket. If they haven't got the right temperament by then they never will.

[Orchid]

Originally Posted by Mike

It's tempting to rush young players into the side but I wonder whether it would be better to give them more time at A level?

And that's one temptation Pakistan has not been able to resist ever so often. Ofcourse, the non-existent domestic stucture is also a contributing factor. If I'm not wrong, instead of allowing players to come through the ranks playing for their regional teams, talent scouts (former players; coaches; captains) would spot players and they would be in the national team overnight. So many players have been rushed into the national team, some have made it and many have disappeared.

Among the current lot, I remember Shahid Afridi made his debut for the national team when he was officially 16 and has somehow managed to stay around until now. Hasan Raza debuted when he was officially 14+ then was discarded for a while and is fighting for a spot again. For every Afridi and Raza, there are countless others who made a brief appearance and were discarded or were injured never to recover fully as they were not physically ready for the rigours of international cricket. Then there are some players who don't value the caps they earn much as they didn't have to work hard for them. It's sad to see so much talent wasted like that.

[Rachael]

This has all been reasonably defendable on one level (selection used to be pretty much the only way of getting the youngsters working with top coaches and working in a professional setup on developing themselves as players... but I feel there's also a massive cultural bias about players being "born not made": Inzi working hard might be approved of.. but the focus on talent first and hard work afterwards (on Shoaib Akhtar types rather than Paul Collingwood types) has tended to extend right up to the level of the selectors.

Pakistan have had huge problems with their opening pairings in recent times... and could have done with a world top 10 batsman like Mark Richardson... and a player like that might well catch Woolmer's eye... but I fear that for too long, a player like that would have tended to get overlooked.

ON a side note: we found in selecting an 'A' side, last year, an incredible number of players just either side of the 5-Test cap criteria for eligibility. The relaxing of the rule for this year should make a significant difference to the list of possibles!

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Orchid

And let's not write off Sami yet

Is that still your view Orchid?

Time for a well-earned break (!) for Sami me thinks, and for Asif, Arafat and Umar Gul to be given a regular run in the Test side over the next 6-12 months. All these guys would be much more effective in English conditions than Sami could ever hope to be - I think a fit and firing five man attack of Shoaib Akhtar, Naved-ul-Hasan, Asif/Umar Gul, Kaneria and Afridi would actually be better than England's quintet next summer. England's pace bowlers may be as good as Pakistan's, but the attack as a whole is let down by the dearth of quality slow bowlers.

[Zainub]

I can't recall the last press conference where Inzi didn't say "All the bowlers, x, y, z and Sami bowled well" (when he hadn't). The only 'problem' with having Inzi-Woolmer as our captain-coach M is that they are both (seemingly) head over heals in love with Sami. I'm guessing Sami will be dropped only when he gets carted around for 0-200 in 15 overs for 2 innings in succession, because if he gets 1-80 (one wicket with the new ball, and gone at 5 an over) or 2-70, with both wickets coming from the tail and gone for 4 an over, that's good enough for his Inzi and Woolmer to given him another chance.

I am at that stage now where I hope that Sami has a really shocking test performance, because I believe only something of that magnitude could affect the confidence the management have in him. It's a bit sad in way that some one as inteligent as Woolmer hasn't realised as yet that Sami getting dropped now will only be the better thing for him in the long term. Sami is not a bad one-day bowler, so probably no need to kick him out of the ODI side as yet. May be in 15 or 30 months time, he'll have transformed the same way like Brett Lee, who was at one stage pretty much like Sami. But after 2 years or so out side the test side, he's improved in test level quite a lot, although he too could do with more consistency.

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Zainub

The only 'problem' with having Inzi-Woolmer as our captain-coach M is that they are both (seemingly) head over heals in love with Sami.

Must be the hair style, and those "loving" stares of his

Karachi young ladies (and middle aged Multan men) must have a soft spot for that sort of thing....

I don't expect Inzi to ever be critical of any of "his boys" in public; however, in private he should have a quite word or two with Sami. In any case, Woolmer has always rated Asif very highly, even when no one else could see why; now that Asif has turned in performances to justify the hype, surely Woolmer could champion him as his protege instead of Sami?

[Zainub]

Don't think it could be down to hair, or looks, you'd think seeing Bobby and Inzi's physiques, that if they would have a soft spot for some one, it would have to be some one fairly good at pie eating! But their "love" for Sami could be down to his good fielding, and somewhat decent batting (which too has gone a bit down hill of late) and general never say die attitude. I'm not saying that lad doesn't try, he does, but he probably tries too much. His bowling has no direction, no consistency, no aim what so ever. As Sanjay Manjeraker says he just runs up and bowls. He doesn't even have a stalk ball, or if he does, he doesn't bowl it with the frequency one would expect some one to bowl their stalk bowl. And top of all that his hair is totally daft. His problems are blatantly obvious.

Fingers crossed Woolmer's liking for Asif will make the way for Sami to be dropped. It's about time now.