Sunday Times article : Class Akhtar

[moomoo]

Cricket : Class Akhtar



If England are to salvage the series it is essential that they find a way of taming the ferocious pace of a rejuvenated Shoaib Akhtar, writes Simon Wilde



For England’s Ashes heroes the past month has represented a fall to earth. One man, above all, has sent them tumbling. They can handle Inzamam-ul-Haq’s immaculate innings; after all, they are experts at containment in the field and can work around him. What they have not been able to cope with is somebody smashing holes in their meticulous plans, somebody with no respect for their hard-won status as world- beaters. For two Tests, Shoaib Akhtar has given them no rest. He has had them twitching their heads clear of bouncers, sliding their toes free from laser-guided yorkers. When they have survived, he has spat insults; when he has captured their wickets, he has mocked them with outrageous celebration. He is the fire-breathing dragon who has slain the knights of St George.
Where more retiring teammates might have shown deference, Shoaib has charged at Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen, the most potent symbols of England’s swaggering renaissance, with no semblance of fear. That he’s gone for nearly four runs an over is not the point; his intent is plain.



Shoaib’s part in the series was only minutes old when Flintoff put him on his knees with one bouncer and rapped him on the hand with another. But not so easily put off, he has sold his wicket dearly. With the ball he has mercilessly harried them both, dismissing Pietersen once and Flintoff three times. These two arrived in Pakistan as stars. Now they merely look like planets orbiting a brighter sun.

If England are to avoid losing a third major Test series in Asia on the bounce in Lahore this week, they need to conquer one of cricket’s great untamed forces. It will not be easy. Just as England were on their way to winning the Ashes once they showed Australia they would not be bullied, so Shoaib has shown that Pakistan need not be cowed.

It is all the worse for being unexpected. England thought they had his measure. His fitness was suspect — he missed Pakistan’s past two series — and his form was more cold than hot. Operating on an overblown 40-yard run-up, he was thought good for only three-over spells. Ask Worcestershire: they wasted their money on him last season. As it is, nearly half his spells have lasted five overs or more. Forget the Shoaib Actor jokes; this has been the real thing.

England need to find redemption in Lahore, but so does Shoaib. It was there last year, against India, that he hit rock bottom. Inzamam, his mild-mannered captain, had just publicly castigated him for his feeble efforts. Like everybody else, Inzamam had tired of Shoaib’s reputation for white-hot pace but even hotter head, for declaring himself unfit and then being spotted night- clubbing or jet-skiing, as has happened in the past.

Rather than pick himself up, Shoaib sulked, skipped a couple of practice sessions and offered to sit out the game. In the end, he played, but bumbled along for the rest of the series, which Pakistan lost. Now he has the chance to return to the Gaddafi stadium in triumph and deliver his captain and country their first series triumph since they won in New Zealand in 2003, when he swept up 11 wickets at Wellington.

If Shoaib is not actually bowling like a god, then he is bowling like a man with God blowing at his back. His consistent speed — 92-95mph — has unnerved England, whose tremulousness has manifested itself in some old-fashioned batting collapses. The last day in Multan consigned them to their first defeat in a tight run-chase since Duncan Fletcher took charge as coach. In Faisalabad they needed the help of seven mini-drink breaks either side of tea to eke out a draw.

“He keeps you on your toes,” said Geraint Jones, who batted through the last 90 minutes in Faisalabad. “He’s bowled fantastically well. He comes at you and wants your wicket. At the end he was bowling yorkers or at your head.”

Shoaib is one reason England have struggled to recreate the Ashes magic. Another is the absence of crowds cheering them in patriotic frenzy. In the summer this phenomenon played its part in demythologising the Australians; the corollary is that the players may now be suffering Attention Deficit Syndrome. While Shoaib, Inzy and Shahid Afridi can earn a standing ovation for tying their shoelaces, every boundary England hit, or wicket they take, is met with near-silence. It must be disconcerting.

England are not without hope. Flintoff, Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard have bowled like trojans on pitches that batter the life from the ball in 15 overs. The Pakistanis have taken eight wickets to England’s two in this crucial period with the first new ball, but with the second new ball England are ahead 9-2.

England dominated for four days in Multan and battled their way into a position on the fourth evening in Faisalabad from which they could have levelled the series, so they must be doing some things right. What they have not done is win the toss, and therefore have not batted first. If they are to win in Lahore, this must surely change. If it does, England have the capacity to make the running and put Pakistan under serious pressure — provided they keep Shoaib at bay.

Significantly, they have scored their runs at a healthy lick — 3.5 per over compared to Pakistan’s 3.3. Only in New Zealand in 2002 have they scored faster overseas under Fletcher.

This rate could rise if England decide that Danish Kaneria, whose wickets and confidence have dried up, is ripe for the taking. Nor will the unpardonable Shahid Afridi be around to cause problems.

Needing 20 wickets in quick time — Lahore’s daylight will allow fewer than the 389 overs bowled last week — England are toying with jettisoning their second spinner, Shaun Udal, in favour of a fresh-legged fourth seamer, presumably James Anderson. Conditions are hard for all bowlers, but the evidence from two matches is plain: seamers have taken 58 wickets, spinners 15. However, good pace is essential, and unless Anderson has regained some of his old zip, he may find his task as thankless as Udal’s.

For all Shoaib’s baiting, and the cultural divide between the teams, the atmosphere remains friendly. Most ill-feeling is reserved for the umpires, who had a poor game in Faisalabad, where Inzamam was wrongly given out in one innings and incorrectly reprieved in the other, which merely allows both sides to feel hard-done by.

England do not have the air of a side that believes it can overcome another flat, grassless pitch and intransigent opponents. They are dwelling on what has happened — the disastrous last day in Multan, the misfortune with the toss — rather than what is to come. If they are not resigned to defeat, they seem to be getting ready to accept it.

[Monsee]

"who had a poor game in Faisalabad, where Inzamam was wrongly given out in one innings and incorrectly reprieved in the other, which merely allows both sides to feel hard-done by."

What utter rot and not a word about Ian Bell's cheating...Yep Inzi was allowed to play on but what about Tresco at 48 in Multan, he ended up scoring 193. These English journalists develop 'Temporary Amnesia' when it comes to decisions that go in their favor or against the opposition

And he is again trying (Unsuccessfully so far thanks to a much imrpoved Shoaib Akhtar) to open up some old burried issues from the past...Now I will pray extra hard for a big time whupping of these Goraays by our Team. Ameen

[kablooee87]

A very good read.

[akpower]

Originally Posted by Monsee What utter rot and not a word about Ian Bell's cheating...Yep Inzi was allowed to play on but what about Tresco at 48 in Multan, he ended up scoring 193. These English journalists develop 'Temporary Amnesia' when it comes to decisions that go in their favor or against the opposition And he is again trying (Unsuccessfully so far thanks to a much imrpoved Shoaib Akhtar) to open up some old burried issues from the past...Now I will pray extra hard for a big time whupping of these Goraays by our Team. Ameen

U missed all the praise he has given to Shoaib, and all u can see is one line of negativity. Thats poor. This was an excellent article. Hardly have I seen words written for Shoaib in such a classic manner.

[immubhai]

All that praise for Shoaib has increased my blood. Suddenly feeling so proud of our team.

[Munda Pakistani]

Originally Posted by moomoo Cricket : Class Akhtar If England are to salvage the series it is essential that they find a way of taming the ferocious pace of a rejuvenated Shoaib Akhtar, writes Simon Wilde For England’s Ashes heroes the past month has represented a fall to earth. One man, above all, has sent them tumbling. They can handle Inzamam-ul-Haq’s immaculate innings; after all, they are experts at containment in the field and can work around him. What they have not been able to cope with is somebody smashing holes in their meticulous plans, somebody with no respect for their hard-won status as world- beaters. For two Tests, Shoaib Akhtar has given them no rest. He has had them twitching their heads clear of bouncers, sliding their toes free from laser-guided yorkers. When they have survived, he has spat insults; when he has captured their wickets, he has mocked them with outrageous celebration. He is the fire-breathing dragon who has slain the knights of St George. Where more retiring teammates might have shown deference, Shoaib has charged at Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen, the most potent symbols of England’s swaggering renaissance, with no semblance of fear. That he’s gone for nearly four runs an over is not the point; his intent is plain. Shoaib’s part in the series was only minutes old when Flintoff put him on his knees with one bouncer and rapped him on the hand with another. But not so easily put off, he has sold his wicket dearly. With the ball he has mercilessly harried them both, dismissing Pietersen once and Flintoff three times. These two arrived in Pakistan as stars. Now they merely look like planets orbiting a brighter sun. If England are to avoid losing a third major Test series in Asia on the bounce in Lahore this week, they need to conquer one of cricket’s great untamed forces. It will not be easy. Just as England were on their way to winning the Ashes once they showed Australia they would not be bullied, so Shoaib has shown that Pakistan need not be cowed. It is all the worse for being unexpected. England thought they had his measure. His fitness was suspect — he missed Pakistan’s past two series — and his form was more cold than hot. Operating on an overblown 40-yard run-up, he was thought good for only three-over spells. Ask Worcestershire: they wasted their money on him last season. As it is, nearly half his spells have lasted five overs or more. Forget the Shoaib Actor jokes; this has been the real thing. England need to find redemption in Lahore, but so does Shoaib. It was there last year, against India, that he hit rock bottom. Inzamam, his mild-mannered captain, had just publicly castigated him for his feeble efforts. Like everybody else, Inzamam had tired of Shoaib’s reputation for white-hot pace but even hotter head, for declaring himself unfit and then being spotted night- clubbing or jet-skiing, as has happened in the past. Rather than pick himself up, Shoaib sulked, skipped a couple of practice sessions and offered to sit out the game. In the end, he played, but bumbled along for the rest of the series, which Pakistan lost. Now he has the chance to return to the Gaddafi stadium in triumph and deliver his captain and country their first series triumph since they won in New Zealand in 2003, when he swept up 11 wickets at Wellington. If Shoaib is not actually bowling like a god, then he is bowling like a man with God blowing at his back. His consistent speed — 92-95mph — has unnerved England, whose tremulousness has manifested itself in some old-fashioned batting collapses. The last day in Multan consigned them to their first defeat in a tight run-chase since Duncan Fletcher took charge as coach. In Faisalabad they needed the help of seven mini-drink breaks either side of tea to eke out a draw. “He keeps you on your toes,” said Geraint Jones, who batted through the last 90 minutes in Faisalabad. “He’s bowled fantastically well. He comes at you and wants your wicket. At the end he was bowling yorkers or at your head.” Shoaib is one reason England have struggled to recreate the Ashes magic. Another is the absence of crowds cheering them in patriotic frenzy. In the summer this phenomenon played its part in demythologising the Australians; the corollary is that the players may now be suffering Attention Deficit Syndrome. While Shoaib, Inzy and Shahid Afridi can earn a standing ovation for tying their shoelaces, every boundary England hit, or wicket they take, is met with near-silence. It must be disconcerting. England are not without hope. Flintoff, Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard have bowled like trojans on pitches that batter the life from the ball in 15 overs. The Pakistanis have taken eight wickets to England’s two in this crucial period with the first new ball, but with the second new ball England are ahead 9-2. England dominated for four days in Multan and battled their way into a position on the fourth evening in Faisalabad from which they could have levelled the series, so they must be doing some things right. What they have not done is win the toss, and therefore have not batted first. If they are to win in Lahore, this must surely change. If it does, England have the capacity to make the running and put Pakistan under serious pressure — provided they keep Shoaib at bay. Significantly, they have scored their runs at a healthy lick — 3.5 per over compared to Pakistan’s 3.3. Only in New Zealand in 2002 have they scored faster overseas under Fletcher. This rate could rise if England decide that Danish Kaneria, whose wickets and confidence have dried up, is ripe for the taking. Nor will the unpardonable Shahid Afridi be around to cause problems. Needing 20 wickets in quick time — Lahore’s daylight will allow fewer than the 389 overs bowled last week — England are toying with jettisoning their second spinner, Shaun Udal, in favour of a fresh-legged fourth seamer, presumably James Anderson. Conditions are hard for all bowlers, but the evidence from two matches is plain: seamers have taken 58 wickets, spinners 15. However, good pace is essential, and unless Anderson has regained some of his old zip, he may find his task as thankless as Udal’s. For all Shoaib’s baiting, and the cultural divide between the teams, the atmosphere remains friendly. Most ill-feeling is reserved for the umpires, who had a poor game in Faisalabad, where Inzamam was wrongly given out in one innings and incorrectly reprieved in the other, which merely allows both sides to feel hard-done by. England do not have the air of a side that believes it can overcome another flat, grassless pitch and intransigent opponents. They are dwelling on what has happened — the disastrous last day in Multan, the misfortune with the toss — rather than what is to come. If they are not resigned to defeat, they seem to be getting ready to accept it.

That's bs.

[z10]

poor article

praising Akhtar overtly doesn't constitute a good read

the lines that Monsee and Munda Pakistani highlighted are proof

[Naz]

Originally Posted by moomoo Cricket : Class Akhtar When they have survived, he has spat insults; when he has captured their wickets, he has mocked them with outrageous celebration. He is the fire-breathing dragon who has slain the knights of St George.

Why is it that the english are meant to be the good guys and the heroes, the "honourable knights" doing good work, and then pakistan is meant to be the evil monsters and the dragons from the dark underworld. These enlglish think they are on a different level to anything asian, the way they igonrantly degrade pakistan without even experiencing it.

[Monsee]

Originally Posted by akpower U missed all the praise he has given to Shoaib, and all u can see is one line of negativity. Thats poor. This was an excellent article. Hardly have I seen words written for Shoaib in such a classic manner.

So...I can praise you all I can or want and then lay in to you and literally call you a failure of sorts

Will you be happy about it

He sugar coated the article and then layed in to Shoaib, Pak team, Inzi and all...I don't see what's so special about that praise anyway!

BTW, what the hell he means by this "who had a poor game in Faisalabad, where Inzamam was wrongly given out in one innings and incorrectly reprieved in the other, which merely allows both sides to feel hard-done by."...did he forgot the reprieve to Tresco at 48 (when he went on to score 193)

IMO, unless he mentions Ian Bell's cheating catch it is a bad attempt at psychological warfare at best

[zaf1986]

Originally Posted by Munda Pakistani That's bs.

He probably got confused with the Ind vs SA match

[Wiji]

Originally Posted by moomoo Cricket : Class Akhtar The Pakistanis have taken eight wickets to England’s two in this crucial period with the first new ball

Goes to show that Malik and Butt are doing their job. Malik has thrown his wicket away carelessly at times but he looks a very good prospect. He has seen off the new ball successfully most of the time. Should stick to this combination for a long time. In one-dayers, Afridi would open with Butt and Malik at one down.

[akpower]

Originally Posted by Monsee So...I can praise you all I can or want and then lay in to you and literally call you a failure of sorts Will you be happy about it He sugar coated the article and then layed in to Shoaib, Pak team, Inzi and all...I don't see what's so special about that praise anyway! BTW, what the hell he means by this "who had a poor game in Faisalabad, where Inzamam was wrongly given out in one innings and incorrectly reprieved in the other, which merely allows both sides to feel hard-done by."...did he forgot the reprieve to Tresco at 48 (when he went on to score 193) IMO, unless he mentions Ian Bell's cheating catch it is a bad attempt at psychological warfare at best

Yeah well.. i dint find much wrong with it neway. We'll agree to disagree..

[zulfiqar]

i think it's not a well-written article... if he wanted to praise shoaib he could've done it without mentioning the other things on the side... it's like monsee said its psychological warfare. he's overtly praising shoiab in attempt to hide the BS he wrote about inzi's decisions without mentioned the other controversial ones involving england.

[Monsee]

Originally Posted by akpower Yeah well.. i dint find much wrong with it neway. We'll agree to disagree..

Just read what Zulfiqar said "Why praise one first, only to humiliate you in the same breath"

Couldn't he have said some positive things only...why most English writers cannot say a few words of praise for Pak players/team without trying to take the mickey at the same time

[Hussain]

poor article
calling Inzi's contribution to the team as insignificant
i now wish tht we beat them up even harder at lahore and take the series 2-0

[Bailan]

actually ... the article is a load of BS ... as good as Akhtar has been ... there is no doubt on it ...

But the guy is using Akhtar as an excuse to why the english have done bad ... no refrence of inzi's excellent captaincy ...

[waqar30]

See how fast times change,same English media was against Shoaib for his county performance,Pak should atleast learn now not to blame Shoaib for losses.

[moomoo]

Marcus Trescothick joins in the praise :-

The pitches have been very slow but although staying in is not difficult, it's hard to dominate bowlers. In many ways the new ball offers more scoring options because it skids on to the bat, though with Shoaib Akhtar charging in and regularly clocking over 90mph, we've needed our wits about us.

There was a lot of talk about Shoaib's fitness but he's impressed me during the series. He's kept running in and has put in good spells at crucial times. He's mixed it up well, bowling yorkers and bouncers, as well as that outrageous slower ball that makes tail-enders freeze because they think it's a beamer. He's very effective in these conditions and stands out in their attack.

Click here for article in Telegraph

[akpower]

Originally Posted by Monsee Just read what Zulfiqar said "Why praise one first, only to humiliate you in the same breath" Couldn't he have said some positive things only...why most English writers cannot say a few words of praise for Pak players/team without trying to take the mickey at the same time

Honestly, man, I dint find a lot of wrong in it. He had a couple negative things to say abt Shoaib but he was simply comparing with how he was in teh recent past and how he is now. In any case, I think its a good read and I just feel that people here strive hard to find something wrong with articles written by English journalists. Some are truly ridiculous, like that one by CMJ, but I think we shd cut this guy some slack. He did a decent job. But everyone is entitled to his opinion.