DUBAI: Mitchell Johnson may have become Australia’s human wrecking ball, but Pakistan coach Waqar Younis says the left-arm pace ace is not in the league of former fast bowling great Wasim Akram.

For Waqar, who formed half of one of world cricket’s most deadly pace duos in the 1990s, Wasim remains the benchmark for all left-arm quicks. “I wouldn’t compare anyone to Wasim Akram, that’s for sure, because he’s a legend and has done wonders for Pakistan,” Waqar said of his former team-mate, who is ninth on the all-time wickets list with 414. “Mitch has got a long way to go if he wants to compete with Wasim Akram, but he’s definitley a threat and a very fine bowler.”

Waqar’s comments come after a stellar run for Johnson during which he has re-established himself as one of the most lethal pacers in inter­n­a­tional cricket.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2014