Afridi turns Aussies inside out

[Random Aussie]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sto...7-2882,00.html

SOMETIMES you see a young sportsman arrive on the scene with a charismatic flourish and you think: "A star is born."

And then you spend the next decade waiting for your big call to be validated.

For this column, Sahibzada Mohammad Shahid Khan Afridi is a case in point.

We were at Karachi's National Stadium in October 1998 when the young Pakistani allrounder, then 18, made his Test debut against Australia and promptly took 5-52 with his distinctive brand of leg-spin.

In the Pakistani tradition of throwing them in young, he had already been playing one-day internationals for two years.

His first Test victims included the Waugh brothers - Steve for a second-ball duck - and Darren Lehmann, so it seemed fair to assume he had a big future, especially as he was also down to open the batting.

More than a decade later, Afridi has played only 25 more Tests and has never taken another "five-for". He averages well under two wickets a game.

And yet, here he is again, tormenting another Australian team.

In three one-dayers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi during the past week, Afridi has looked like a world-beater as he has taken 6-38, 2-38 and 2-31 from his 30 overs -- an economy rate of less than four.

As the commentators, especially the Pakistani ones, keep saying, he has never bowled so well.

Indeed, in 274 one-dayers Afridi has 253 wickets, or not quite one a game.

So what's going on?

Well, for one thing, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the Australians to continue denying they are losing the plot against spin bowling - and not necessarily high-calibre spin, either.

In their past six matches against South Africa and Pakistan they have have lost 44 wickets, 29 of them to spin bowlers - and have amassed only one really big score, 303 in Johannesburg.

Against South Africa, they have struggled against Johan Botha, Roelof van der Merwe and J. P. Duminy, and now it's Afridi, Saeed Ajmal and Shoaib Malik.

Not many Shane Warnes or Anil Kumbles in that lot. Indeed, those two retired champions are starring in the IPL, along with Muthiah Muralidaran, Daniel Vettori and Harbhajan Singh, as well as a handful of promising Indian youngsters.

Spin bowling is suddenly very "in" everywhere you look - except Australia, where the stocks have seldom been barer. But then, even Michael Clarke proved a shock matchwinner with his gentle left-arm tweakers on Monday night.

But the sight of the bearded, effervescent Afridi enjoying himself so much has been the highlight of the current series.

Probably nobody was more chuffed about it than the legendary Abdul Qadir, who the cameras caught sitting in the stands.

Until Warne came along, Qadir was in a class of his own in the difficult art of leg-spin, and there was no one better to watch.

Afridi is not in that league, not by a very long way. But given that he also bats like a tornado when he comes off -- he has five Test and four one-day centuries, all of them rapid-fire -- he is certainly an entertainer when he's in the mood.

Now 29, maybe the new-born star is finally becoming a big name in more ways than one.



Thought a few PPer might be interested in this article.

[Ghoshtbuster]

Nice article. Waugh brothers on debut? He has carried that trend on through his career - his wickets are usually big players, top order batsmen.

But that Afridi has only played 26 Tests is a crime.

[OZGOD]

29? I thought Ghosht said he was 33?

I thought he was 17 myself.

[najam2007]

afridi is a world class bowler

[AZ]

he has been our best ODI bowler for quite some time now...stil very much THE main factor for a Pakistan victory

[crichassan]

I must say afridi is my hero. good luck for next remaining ODI.

[M.Y.13]

Originally Posted by AhmedZulfiqar he has been our best ODI bowler for quite some time now...stil very much THE main factor for a Pakistan victory

I think he will become number one odi bowler after this series

[IAJ]

Originally Posted by M.Y.13 I think he will become number one odi bowler after this series

He should at least climb up some places on that allrounders ranking.

[Ghoshtbuster]

Originally Posted by OZGOD 29? I thought Ghosht said he was 33? I thought he was 17 myself.

It does depend on what solar cycle you prefer.

But I think when writing articles, authors will refer to cricinfo for basic stats, and that is his "official" age. Baring in mind he was born in tribal areas - where I imagine birth certificates are way down on the list of important things.

[farasG]

Originally Posted by Ghoshtbuster It does depend on what solar cycle you prefer. But I think when writing articles, authors will refer to cricinfo for basic stats, and that is his "official" age. Baring in mind he was born in tribal areas - where I imagine birth certificates are way down on the list of important things.

im glad you ref to it as the 'official' age because I've had a lot of players request change of date of births because they wanted it to be the same on cricinfo as on their passports since they were applying for british visas for club cricket.

they then admitted they had provided incorrect DOBs to PCB so they could appear in u-19, u-15 teams..

[Ghoshtbuster]

Originally Posted by farasG they then admitted they had provided incorrect DOBs to PCB so they could appear in u-19, u-15 teams..

In Pak, they didnt used to bother with birth certificates even as recently as the last generation, particularly with people from small villages.

It is becoming more common place now I think.

[Saj]

Afridi needs to be careful otherwise he could land himself into trouble.

The last thing we want is Shane Watson having another tantrum and "grassing" him up to the umpires for bowling too many googlies.

[Saj]

Originally Posted by maamrut I guess his true colors will emerge when he faces India.

Is playing India some sort of test to see how good a player is or something ?

[IronMan2009]

You could replace that title with

Van der mewe turns aussies inside out
Harris turns aussies inside out
Botha turns aussies inside out

it will still make sense. They have been struggling against all kind of spinners these days.

[IronMan2009]

Swann/Panesar vs Aussies will be an interesting tussle.

[Muhammad]

Originally Posted by IronMan2009 You could replace that title with Van der mewe turns aussies inside out Harris turns aussies inside out Botha turns aussies inside out it will still make sense. They have been struggling against all kind of spinners these days.

Ridi's been doing it for years though.

[IronMan2009]

Originally Posted by Muhammad Ridi's been doing it for years though.

Doing what?

[Muhammad]

Originally Posted by IronMan2009 Doing what?

Smacking the ball several hundred metres into the air before being caught as well as turning the Aussie batsmen inside out.

[IronMan2009]

Originally Posted by Muhammad Smacking the ball several hundred metres into the air before being caught as well as turning the Aussie batsmen inside out.

Few competitors are there for Afridi in that area

[cricwiz]

I always believe form is relative to confidence...

Even if its the case that Aussies are so bad against spin that they cannot handle Afridi, it may be right... But inturn it is giving Afridi the confidence to be the prime spinner for the country, and confidence can make a bowler bowl with much more command and authority..

So I predict that Afridi would not be a easy bowler to handle for oppositions in future because of the confidence the Aussies are giving him this series...

[Blistering Barnacle]

Afridi looks anywhere from 32-35 for me.

Anyone know what his actual age is?

[Ghoshtbuster]

Good guess. 33.

[Pakpride]

doesn't matter he suks at batting for which people like him

[Sufi Malang]

Afridi is 3 years older than his official age. He's 32

[bone_thug786]

Originally Posted by Pakpride doesn't matter he suks at batting for which people like him

firstl his batting has improved. he seems to be taking time to get in and plays maybe one 'mad' swing at the start of the innings. but thats why the crowd ove him because he is unpredictable. he is also unpredictable with the bowl as he has so many deliverys the batsman cant predict which one he will bowl. he is in a class of his own. he warrants a place in the team for his bowling alone.

[dblock]

His problem is that he is not a stable enough batsmen to bat an number 6 (apart from the 18 month period when he did look like he had matured) and he is also not good enough with the ball to be a number one spinner in the side.

In the era of YK, MoYo and Inzi middle order it was a fair gamble to stick Afridi in at number 6, but now it wouldn't be possible.