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| November 26, 2003 | Wednesday | Shawwal 1, 1424 |
On song Shoaib is one of most potent bowlers: Hadlee
AUCKLAND, Nov 25: New Zealand’s chief cricket selector Sir Richard Hadlee has said that when Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar is “on song, he is one of the most potent fast bowlers in world cricket.
“The extra pace he generates will severely test our inexperienced top order batting during coming tour (of that country involving five one-day internationals”, he said in an interview.
Asked Shoaib Akhtar is always a threat, how does he think Kiwis batting line-up will cope with him and rest of home side’s attack, Hadlee replied “probably with some difficulty. Late in the innings with his fast reverse inswing deliveries, he will make it difficult for batsmen to score fast runs. If tail order batting is exposed, survival will be difficult.
“It will be important for an experienced batsman or two to be in when Shoaib bowls late in innings, otherwise he has ability to blitz and terminate innings very quickly” said Kiwis chairman of selectors.
Shoaib will be motivated because he missed tri-series in Sri Lanka due to a suspension where NZ beat Pakistan in the final. Perhaps it is payback time. The speedster will miss first two ODIs, because of suspension by ICC match referee.
Asked Shoaib’s new ball partner Mohammad Sami is an exciting prospect. Have you seen much of him and how highly do you rate him?
“I rate him highly. He has very good pace in excess of 140 kph, he runs in, tries to bowl fast and is deceptively quicker than he looks.
“Being slightly smaller in stature than most fast bowlers, sometimes ball will skid through a little lower but he is still at batsman creating pressure and gets wickets”.
Questioned how he saw strengths and weaknesses of New Zealand’s seam bowling newcomers Tama Canning and Matthew Walker? “The only contact I have had with both players is to advise them of their selections and wish them all the best.
“They, along with Hamish Marshall, Kerry Walmsley, Michael Mason, Craig Cumming and Richard Jones see this as a tremendous opportunity to advance their careers. Coaching staff now take over and mould players into a successful team and try and get best out of every player in such short period of time.
“Tama is a talented cricketer who has performed admirably at first class and one-day level for Auckland. He is medium pace bowler who swings ball and has ability to bat well towards end of innings.
“He has ability to get wickets and break partnerships. He is potential match-winner but is untested at this level. He may be used bowling ‘at the death’ which has proved to be a weakness in our game.
“Matthew Walker has been a consistent performer with bat and ball for Wellington. He is another medium pacer who performed year in and year out. He bowls straight, he has a big heart and tries very hard.
To a question whether he has any particular thoughts about playing against Pakistan which stand out in his memory?
“I recall playing third Test at Karachi in 1976. We were 2-0 down in the series and probably looked like losing 3-0. Warren Lees, our wicket-keeper, scored a career best 152 and I managed to get to 80 odd to help save the match.
“A young Imran Khan was bowling to me at lively pace and proceeded to bounce me four or five times in one over. He was warned by the umpire and Imran, who must have been frustrated for some reason, persisted with this tactic only to be removed from attack by umpire for persistent short pitched bowling”.—PPI
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