Misbah, Hafeez, Ajmal will be the Key in Champions Trophy Posted on April 18, 2013 by abdullahhaider2013214 | Leave a comment

Misbah, Hafeez, Ajmal will be the Key in Champions Trophy

Posted on April 18, 2013 by abdullahhaider2013214 | Leave a comment

These 3 are undoubtedly the key who the team heavily rely on for runs, wickets, stability and balance.

Misbah, Hafeez, Ajmal – The Faisalabad trio are the nucleus of the one day side and the 3 most valuable one day players in terms of leading batsmen, leading all rounder and leading bowler as well as experienced respected leadership presences in the case of Misbah and Hafeez that you wouldn’t consider dropping and hence have a longer description in place for them. Ajmal might not be a leader, but there is no disagreement about him being Pakistan’s biggest talking point from the perspective of opposition camps. These 3 are undoubtedly the key who the team heavily rely on for runs, wickets, stability and balance. They are the go to men who have all played over 80 of these 50 over internationals with impressive success. The team is build around them. Starting with the skipper, here I outline the individual strengths with reference explicitly to 50 over cricket:

Misbah – Mr Dependable

1)      Patience, temperament, mental toughness, self belief to sit in, absorb pressure when there is a tight passage of bowling and the ball is hard to get away, knowing he has the range of shots and the power game to accelerate and make up for a sedate beginning the longer he is out there and has properly got his eye in. He is a capable and occasional enforcing player while being able to protect his wicket respectfully, hang around and work the gaps

2)      Calmness, determination, responsibility to see his side home and remain unbeaten in a run chase, particularly when there is a working total to chase meaning he has the license to bide his time somewhat which he relishes with his grinding game plan

3)      Ability to assess and read conditions like a farmer to his soil from a pure captaincy point of view

4)      Keeping his side together, priding them on the conduct and overseeing developments closely. In England, this will be of paramount importance given the past events

5)      Interacting with the press in a diplomatic and professional manner which gives a strong likeable account of his team

Hafeez – Utility Cricketer

1)      Ability to bowl with the new ball for a canny off spinning all rounder. Doesn’t mind the hardness and proud seam despite being a finger spinner.

2)      Ability to knock over  left handers with his drifters and straighter ones from an around the wicket angle of attack

3)      Ability to get through 10 overs; reliably, accurately, economically, almost silently with nagging control

4)      Advice and suggestions in the field to captain and bowlers, active vice skipper

5)      Can make big runs on flat wickets and is a decent enough batsmen

Ajmal – Mystery man

1)      Ability to turn the ball both ways in a disguised manner, making it hard for most to read him, particularly out of the hand. Often players play him off the pitch which can be guess work territory if you don’t pick up the length

2)      Control to be able to make the most of his mysteries and variations in his golden armoury, barely giving anything to hit and always testing in the right areas

3)      Ability to vary his pace and assess the pace that is right for the surface and ground dimensions. Has the experience and canniness to work it out for him-self.

4)      Self confidence to operate in the batting power play time after time. Likes the challenge when batsmen are on the charge and attempting to take him on with all the tricks up his sleeve.

5)      Ability to bamboozle players who are playing him for the first time and lower order players in dominant fashion

Azhar Ali – Enduring Grafter

1)      Can play 2nd fiddle when forming a partnership and patiently go about his trade unnoticed while contributing to the team cause

2)      Can negotiate with the new ball with an efficient technical basis to work from

3)      Can hold up an end and control proceedings, ensuring wickets are in tact

4)      Handy 6th bowling option as a decent leg spinner

5)      Good alert close in fielder to the bat

Asad Shafiq – Man for a crisis

1)      Wrist work and general leg side play

2)      Ability to manoeuvre the field by playing the ball late

3)      Reasonably compact technique

4)      Thrives when batting in a crisis

5)      Strong catcher and ground fielder

Mohammad Irfan – Big Bird Number 2

1)      Extra bounce

2)      Surprise batsmen with his Yorker

3)      Awkward customer for players playing him for the first time

4)      Utilise early morning moisture

5)      Complements Junaid well

Junaid – Mohammad Aamir number 2 (minus the corruption fingers crossed)

1)      Whole hearted performer

2)      Bowls well at the death and back end

3)      Quick learner

4)      Whippy bowling action

5)      Can move it around both ways

Abdur Rehman – Silent Assassin

1)      Control with the ball

2)      Talented batsmen for a number 8 or number 9

3)      Can also bowl with the new ball

4)      Operates well in tandem with Ajmal

5)      Tricky customer to score off

Nasir Jamshed – Comparisons with Anwar were inevitable

1)      Leg side play

2)      Stylishness both sides of the wicket

3)      Pretty  impressive one day form over last year or so

4)      Put on many 100+ stands with Hafeez, 4 already, decent understanding developed

5)      Gives a left right hand combination to disrupt bowlers line

Malik – Ice Cool Finisher

1)      Cool headed finisher

2)      Quick runner between the wickets

3)      Likes milking the spinners in the middle passages

4)      Outstanding outfielder

5)      Handy off spin option, relying a lot on flight deception

Ajmal Targets Glory in England This Summer Author: Analyst Maaz; Views: 1516; Date: 26-02-2013, 08:28;

Saeed Ajmal targets glory for Pakistan in England this summer 

"The last four ICC events we have got through to the semi-final. This time with the ICC Champions Trophy coming, we want to win it. That is what we are dreaming,"

Pakistan in ICC Champions Trophies

1998 = First round, Captain Aamir Sohail

2000 = Semi finalists, Captain Moin Khan  

2002 = First round, Captain Waqar Younis           

2004 = Semi finalists, Captain Inzamam

2006 = First round, Captain Younis Khan

2009 = Semi finalists, Captain Younis Khan

2013 = Under Misbah ul Haq, Finalists surely?

9 ODIs left (4 against Scotland/Ireland) before the 2^nd biggest 50 over international world tournament, more than the result in the one day series against South Africa, getting the balance and combination of the side will be of most importance. The one day series win will mean nothing should they fail at the ICC   Champions Trophy.

8 teams

18 days

15 games

120 squad players

3 venues: Edgbaston, Oval, Cardiff

No minnows

No associates

Dress rehearsal for 2015

The 7^th and final edition of the ICC Champions Trophy

Previously known as the ‘mini world cup’ and ‘ICC knock out trophy’

Biggest group games:

1) Pakistan vs. India at Edgbaston on 15^th June

2) Australia vs. England at Edgbaston on 8^th June

Most titles = Australia

Most finals = West Indies

Most semis = Australia

Defending Champions = Australia

Last ICC Champions Trophy in England winners = West Indies (2004)

Last ICC tournament in England winners = Pakistan (2009)

Shane Watson has been man of the match in the final of the last 2 Champions Trophies

Apart from England and Pakistan, all participating teams have had at least 1 title, Pakistan have never even played a final unlike England

The only ICC men’s tournament Pakistan haven’t won

Pakistan in ICC Champions Trophies

1998 = First round, Captain Aamir Sohail

2000 = Semi finalists, Captain Moin Khan

2002 = First round, Captain Waqar Younis

2004 = Semi finalists, Captain Inzamam

2006 = First round, Captain Younis Khan

2009 = Semi finalists, Captain Younis Khan

2013 =???????

Hosts by year

98 = Bangladesh

2000 = Kenya

2002 = Sri Lanka

2004 = England

2006 = India

2009 = South Africa

2013 = England

Player of the final by year

98 = Kallis

2000 = Sanath

2002 = NA

2004 = Bradshaw

2006 = Watson

2009 = Watson

Player of the tournament by year

98 = Kallis

2000 = Sanath

2002 = NA

2004 = Sarwan

2006 = Gayle

2009= Ponting

Winners by year

98 = South Africa, finalists = West Indies, semi-finalists = India, Sri Lanka

2000= New Zealand, finalists = India, semi-finalists = South Africa, Pakistan

2002 = Shared between India and Sri Lanka, semi-finalists = South Africa, Australia

2004 = West Indies, finalists = England, semi-finalists = Pakistan, Australia

2006 = Australia, finalists = West Indies, semi-finalists = South Africa, New Zealand

2009 = Australia, finalists = New Zealand, semi-finalists = Pakistan, England

Prediction

SA vs Ind = SA
Pak vs WI = Pak
Eng vs Aus = Eng
SL vs NZ = NZ
SA vs Pak = Pak
WI vs Ind = WI
NZ vs Aus = Aus
Eng vs SL = Eng
SA vs WI = WI
Ind vs Pak = Ind
Eng vs NZ = Eng
SL vs Aus = Aus

Groups

Group A

1) England 3 wins
2) Australia 2 wins
3) New Zealand 1 win
4) Sri Lanka 0 win

Group B

1) Pakistan 2 wins
2) West Indies 2 wins
3) India 1 win
4) South Africa 1 win

These are the only possibilities of wins difference in a 4 team pool assuming there are no wash-outs:

3 1 1 1
2 2 2 0
3 2 1 0
2 2 1 1

Semi Finals

England vs West Indies = England
Pakistan vs Australia = Pakistan

Final

England vs. Pakistan = England

Player of the tournament prediction:

1)    Cook

2)    KP

3)    Swann

4)    Trott

5)    Finn

6)    Gayle

7)    Samuels

8)    Pollard

9)    Narine

10) Bravo

11) Ajmal

12) Hafeez

13) Misbah

14) Kohli

15) Starc

Test Defeat Player Rankings Author: Analyst Maaz; Views: 682; Comments: ; Date: 5-02-2013, 09:18;

We will bounce back in Cape Town. The Misbah-Shafiq stand was reminiscent of Cook-Prior at Ahmadabad, not only in their approach, but also the situation of the game. Both came in defeated causes, however were crucial in minimising the humiliating, restoring pride and giving them some positives to take away with an eye on the coming tests. They have spent valuable time in the middle, kept South Africa in the field, made them work for their wickets, frustrated them greatly, taken the test deeper and lifted the morale of the camp. Misbah batted like a wall, glue, a rock, and battled for his runs which he does ever so well in a crisis when the side are up against it and undoubtedly helped the less experienced Asad Shafiq get through the extended evening session, who also defended tightly and stroked them nicely.

Misbah 8/10 – You can only write a song of praise for every test match he has captained in, even when the side has lost he has performed individually as was the case in Guyana. Captained smartly with his decision making and bowling changes on the opening day as the opposition was bowled out for the 5^th time on the opening day of the series under his collective and cunning leadership. He looked much more assured and comfortable in his technique and method of countering the SA quicks and Keppler Wessels even went on to say he looked the best of the lot in the dismal 49 all out showing before being the victim of a controversial decision which saw him on his way for the 2^nd highest score of the innings and 2^nd longest innings. In the 2^ndinnings, Misbah top scored in the innings and played the longest innings of the test match in minutes with a determined and resistible vigil to take the test into day 4 when a 3 day humiliation was on the cards. It undoubtedly frustrated the hosts and restored much needed pride and confidence in the visitors’ camp with their stable level headed skipper continuing to thrive with responsibility. Misbah scored his 3^rd half century this year in just as many first class games and has top scored on 4 occasions already in an innings this year as his persevering and relentless demeanour has consistently shown its effectiveness in negotiating safely, willingly and obdurately in a crisis. As ever, looked in his own bubble and unfazed out in the middle, content on following his firm structure and set of traditional principles, which have worked for him not only on slow and low wickets, however also on wickets with there is movement and bounce as this test match clearly showed. Consistent, reliable, dependable, re-assuring, methodical, structured, extra determined and rising above the rest as ever. His concentration and judgement was unstinting. 15 50+ scores in 30 innings since taking over and now has same the number of 50+ scores as Azhar Ali since November 2010 (when the Misbah era as captain started).

Mohammad Hafeez 6/10 – Mohammad Hafeez took the most number of wickets in the test match from the visiting party. He was introduced into the attack, late on day 1 and picked up 4 wickets, some of them with the new ball which Misbah ul Haq delayed taking. As ever, most of the wickets came against left handers who he is ever so potent against. Hafeez didn’t last long both times with the bat, although got a bit of an unlucky leg side strangle in the second innings. His bowling played a crucial hand in keeping the South Africa first innings total down when they were 4 down for 170 odd at one stage with some of the front line bowlers barely threatening enough. Also, Mr Professor held on to the first catch of the series when Junaid knocked over Alviro. Hafeez claimed a wicket with his first ball of the series. Quite similarly, he also did so against Eng in the UAE when he nipped Cook out on the 3^rd ball he sent down.

Nasir Jamshed 6/10 - Did well to survive an over just before the close on day 1 and get off the mark the following day before being trapped in front in the early minutes of day 2 against the ever threatening Dale Steyn. Played aggressively 2^nd time around, although he rode his luck along the way. Soft, embarrassing dismissal for him in the 40s when he was starting to develop a promising, hard to dismiss 2^nd wicket stand with Azhar Ali as the left right combination worked wonders, just like Azhar and Taufeeq in the recent past. Given that he was on debut, it wasn’t the worst of beginnings for the talented left handed opening batsmen who is trying to adapt to the demands of the longer form which requires more discipline and patience in his game. These are qualities he will need to focus more on. I still expect Taufeeq Umar to be back in the side by the West Indies tour.

Azhar Ali 5/10 – He survived for over 100 deliveries in the test match, gritted it out and showed a reliable defensive game plan. Both times Kallis knocked him over with a combination of planning and execution. It was thoughtful thinking from the champion highly experienced gifted all-rounder who incidentally is one of Azhar’s idols. Ali was committing on the front foot in the first innings and gloved one through as he wasn’t quite able to get the hands down in time whereas in the second innings he was camped on the back-foot anticipating the bouncer that they were testing him out, roughing him up with and which got him in the first innings as he fell to a fuller and straighter delivery. The most impressive part of his application in this test was his leaving and knowing where his off stump was as he judged and left with a degree of assurance. Unforgettably, took a blinder when Misbah ul Haq made an inspirational bowling change as he turned to Younis to get Amla. Ali clung on to a flashy stroke at Gully which was struck like a rocket.

Younis Khan 2/10 - It was tentative poking outside the off stump from the middle order batting stalwart. He also survived a close review in his second innings. Younis now has 2 50+ scores in his last 12 test innings. However, the good old cliché stands, form is temporary, class is permanent.

Asad Shafiq 7/10 – Outstanding pressure catches at deep square leg/deep mid-wicket in both innings to send Kallis on his way, a much prized wicket in any case. Shafiq played an irresponsible waft in the first innings, but perhaps that came as a result of some sustained pressure due to tight bowling with the scoreboard not moving while wickets were constantly falling like a pack of cards. Nevertheless, in the second innings and fourth of the test match, Shafiq continues to show why he is a man for a crisis. He is more than just a complete test match blocker as there is an element of grace and elegance about his strokes once he survives the initial stages. There was the odd rash shot, however by and large he was sound in defence and followed the instructions of the captain as he worked his way to a morale lifting half century. However, he has a tendency of losing his wicket against the new ball early in the morning after surviving to stumps and this is an area where he might want to think more about. He’s a classy, compact and consistently performing player who is just the right kind of number 6 the team could do with.

Safraz 4/10 – Neat and efficient in the keeping department. Safraz now has 4 single digit scores in his test career. There were eyebrows raised regarding his selection ahead of Adnan who has been tidy behind the stumps and improved his contributions in front of them, particularly in the last 2 series against England and Sri Lanka. Adnan and Taufeeq are two men you would have expected to be playing this test match if you turn the clock back to a month ago. Safraz should be given the series and can still take confidence from the 90 odd he made in the 4 day warm up against a board invitational XI

Umar Gul 6/10 – 4 wickets in the game for the fast bowling spearhead. The opening bowler got Smith both times in his 100^th test match as captain in his home city by just angling the ball across the leg side dominant Smith. He also intelligently dismissed Kallis by trapping him with the short ball. It was creative piece of thinking on his part. Gul played a lazy shot in the first innings and for a talented, capable and number 8 batsmen with a fair deal of experience he has got to be harder on himself with the bat.

Junaid Khan 7/10 - Misbah highlighted him as the key man to look out for if he had to single out someone when quizzed at the toss by HD. Junaid was the pick of the seamers and got the red cherry to talk. He bowled with pace and energy and provided the team with the lift in the first innings when they were going through some flat phases. Junaid has worked on his batting which is now showing.

Saeed Ajmal 3/10 – 40 overs+ without taking a wicket for Pakistan’s best player. Ajmal hasn’t bowled much in the longer form of the game over the last 6 months and it showed in his lacks of wickets. Ajmal averages 40 without Rehman’s inclusion and there is little doubt that he is a much better and much threatening option when Rehman is plugging away and holding up an end as this allows him to attack and experiment more in shorter bursts and also pushes him to strive that extra mile and even takes some pressure away from him knowing the responsibilities in the spinning department don’t solely rely on him. Although Ajmal is a superior bowler on paper, the difference between him and Rehman in the longer form of the game is not much as what might be initially perceived. Ajmal was more or less playing a holding role, however if they needed someone to do that Rehman was a better option. Generally, Ajmal’s impact and effectiveness is maximised with Rehman also sharing the spinning duties as a front line option. At the beginning of Misbah’s tenure, Rehman was preferred as the front line spinner, not all that long ago. Two of the best players in the side, along with Younis need to lift their game.

Rahat Ali 1/10 – Aamir Sohail rated him highly and generally is accurate in his assessment. Rahat was thrown into the deep end, just days after arriving in the country and failed to make any noticeable impression. Perhaps he is the 41^st 1 test wonder to come out of the country. It was well mentioned on commentary from Pommie that you can’t select someone based on first class record just for the sake of it and need to look at what they will bring to the team that will help the cause and be different.

Average = 4 odd

Ajmal Fact – Record Breaking Stat Potentially Author: Analyst Maaz; Views: 620; Comments: ; Date: 9-12-2012, 09:29;

9 Wickets Away From Concluding 2012 with the Most Wickets by a Pakistan Bowler in a Calendar Year

Saeed Ajmal needs 9 wickets in the remaining 3 internationals the Pakistanis play this year during the Indian tour to end the year with the most international wickets by a Pakistan bowler in a single year, overtaking the record of former off spinner and the inventor of the doosra, Saqlain Mushtaq who got 101 wickets in the 1997 calendar year across Test and ODIs. Murali holds the record for the most international wickets in a calendar year for all countries. Ajmal also just needs 5 wickets to overtake Dirk Nannes’s tally of 27 international Twenty20 wickets in 2010 which was the most in the format. Ajmal will have a maximum of 8 overs in Twenty20s during the tour and 18 overs overall in the remaining 2012 internationals to achieve the above landmarks, including the opening ODI on the 30th in Chennai. With the manner in which he has mesmerised batters, one after the other this year; who’s to put it past the Pakistani magician who was clearly inexplicably and unfairly overlooked for ICC player of the year 2012 against many people’s surprise and disappointment.

Ajmal currently is the leading wicket taker this year across all internationals just like he was last year. Since the beginning of January 2011 the late bloomer has spun out as many as 182 players with his mixture of off break, doosras, top spinners, arm balls, drifters, non spinning darts and quicker ones. You can never count out Pakistan’s most feared weapon who is undeniably one of the toughest opponents to face in the modern game. With age the toughest is also getting cannier in his game, making him all the more potent. Ajmal is yet to play a full series in India, the only experience he has had in India was during the unforgettable World Cup semi-final in March last year. Unfortunately for him, he won’t have the opportunity to play the Test series and prove his worth against them in the ultimate form of the game against the calibre of Indian batsmen as the tour is restricted to limited over matches only, during the Christmas break for the England tour.

Ajmal this Year

39 wickets in 6 Tests
31 wickets in 17 ODIs
23 wickets for 14 T20s

Saeed Ajmal Updated Player Profile Author: Maaz; Views: 1602; Date: 21-09-2012, 03:23;

Saeed Ajmal – inventive off spinner 

Saeed was player of the match in the first domestic 20/20 final in Pakistan & later that year starred for Faisalabad Wolves during the club 20/20 championship in England which they won as well. Pakistan saw the beginning of a fine talent here. Saeed debuted in 2008 Asia Cup against India in an ODI & the following year made his test debut against Sri Lanka. In Pakistan’s record breaking 2011 in tests & ODIs Saeed claimed 89 international wickets, the most & 24 more than the next best. Ajmal was the joint quickest Pakistan spinner to 50 test wickets & the quickest to 100 test wickets by a Pakistan bowler, reaching the milestone in just 19 test matches.

In 2011, Saeed was the only bowler in the world to have 50 test scalps, some achievement considering he missed 20% of Pakistan’s test matches that year & was struggling to break into the side at the beginning of the year. Saeed claimed 12 wickets at an average of 14 in the 2009 World T20 championship in England which Pakistan won. The following T20 World Cup, Ajmal was Pakistan’s leading wicket taker in the West Indies where they were semi finalists. During the 2009 Champions Trophy in South Africa Saeed claimed 8 wickets in the 4 encounters with 2 in each game. The following summer in England, Saeed bagged his maiden 5 wicket haul in a test match at Edgbaston after coming in for Danish Kaneria & in the same match scored a half century to avoid losing by an innings. Ajmal played only 3 one day internationals in the 2011 World Cup, but in each of them showed his class & spun webs around the batsmen as the unorthodox off spinner claimed 2 wickets at an economical rate in the knock out games against the West Indies & India.

Saeed has been MOTS in the last 3 major test series Pakistan have contested against West Indies, Sri Lanka & England & concluded each of the test series as the leading wicket taker by an uncatchable margin. Ajmal is one of the most feared opponents in world cricket nowadays & if he keeps performing as exceptionally as he has been doing there is little reason why he cannot end up as Pakistan’s best ever spinner in all seriousness.

Ajmal has blossomed late in his career after a long wait in the domestic circuit & in a short career up to now has been all over the best in the business like a rash. Saeed is known for his ‘doosra’ which he executes more dangerously than any bowler I have seen, getting bounce, turn, skid, dip, drop, revs, bite & batsmen are left guessing with a completely scrambled mindset. Saeed gets them to turn with control at pace & in different directions, all well disguised; it doesn’t come more threatening than that. In early 2012 Saeed also was ranked in the top 3 of the world bowling rankings in all 3 formats & was the only player in both test & ODI side for Wisden’s World XI in 2011. 

His breakthrough really came in 2011 during the Caribbean tour where he claimed 25 wickets including 17 in the 2 match test series which was shared before going to Ireland and taking 7 wickets in 2 ODIs with a cheap 3 for and a 4 for in Belfast during the bank holiday weekend that year. Saeed was a nominee for ICC ODI player of the year in 2011 & surely will be at least a short listed nominee for the Sir Garfield Sobers trophy at the annual ICC awards dinner this year. Ajmal was discovered & introduced into the team by Pakistan’s current captain Misbah ul Haq & ever since has never looked back, going from strength to strength. 

With already 47 international scalps in 2012 including 8 in 4 encounters during the 2012 Asia Cup to give his side their 2nd Asia Cup title in 3 decades, 24 in the all important 3 tests against the Poms & his maiden 5 wicket haul during the 1st ODI in Abu Dhabi in the same tour, the off spinner is clearly leading the way in 2012 in terms of most wickets. Ajmal also featured for the Dhaka Gladiators who won the inaugural BPL in the same year & went for a pricey amount in the auction, giving clear indications of his class, rating, and skilfulness. 

What stands out about Ajmal is the fact that he is equally as capable to bowling to both right and left handers from over and around the wicket to challenge batsmen with different angles & lines of attack confidently. He is a genuine specialist when it comes to bowling in powerplays. He is a banker who can be relied on as he is a difficult bowler to target. Additionally, he can bowl an off spinner & doosra or the straighter variations by pitching the ball in the exact same spot. This makes him even harder to pick or read. Unlike Murali who would spin his off break a mile, he does not need to land his variations in different places to work, giving the batsmen even less clues to work with. Truly masterful at playing the ‘mind games’ to disrupt the psyche of the opposition as many would know with the unveiling of the ‘teesra’ prior to the 1st test in Dubai against England.

The manner in which Ajmal has responded and bounced back after the over against Mr Cricket in St Lucia on 14th May 2010 where he was picked off for 22 from 4 deliveries, bowling the final over is a testimony to his mental toughness, self belief & self determination. His confidence must have been shattered, but he’s come back even a better, tougher & stronger character all together.

Despite taking 120 wickets in the qualification period, 37 more than the next best, Ajmal was overlooked for ICC cricketer of the year 2012, too many people’s surprise and frustration by a 32 member panel. He was also the leading test match wicket taker during the qualification period and played an instrumental part in Pakistan’s record breaking 2011-12 season. For many, his exclusion, was inexplicable and showed a loss of credibility for the awards. Nonetheless, PCB have promised they will be holding their own ceremony in honour of his phenomenal contributions to Pakistan cricket after the ongoing WT20. To his credit, Ajmal didn’t show any anger, at least on the outside about being overlooked, vowing to hopefully win the award next year. This is applaud-able on his part as to be overlooked despite achieving so much is hard to come to grips with.

Recently Ajmal claimed 16 wickets in 6 LOIs against Australia during their tour of the Emirates for 3 ODIs and 3 T20 matches. Ajmal claimed 10 wickets in the 3 ODIs, dismissing his nemesis, Michael Hussey twice, in fact it should have been all three times, but for some reason or the other they decided against a review when replays showed it was stone dead during the deciding match in the series. Ajmal was awarded player of the match during the Twenty20 series of the tour, surprisingly his first one in limited over cricket and his first player of the match award in the limited over format also came during the course of the series. He’s achieved plenty in tests and is a modern all rounder who plays all formats and does it well, but many would consider him an even superior bowler in the shorter formats when batsmen have to attack him more and try to take him on.

Currently, during the WT20 in Sri Lanka, Ajmal is undoubtedly, Pakistan’s biggest weapon who is tipped to be one of the stars of the show. There is no doubting about his credentials as the best spinner in the world at the moment, some would say best bowler and best player as well. He goes into the tournament, having taken 2-22 against India and 4-14 against England in the warm-ups, unsurprisingly exceedingly economical, but troubling.

Such players like Ajmal unite a country, likeable characters, exceptional performers, trouble free. There is minimal disagreement from the fans about him being as good as he is, both for the men in green and the world game as a whole. There might not be many like him, but they could certainly do with more like him.

Different Deliveries

Off spinner

Off spinner slower through the air

Doosra (major weapon)

Top spinner (major weapon)

Arm ball

Straighter one

Bullet darted in full (seam up full and straight when bowling at the death in a one day game)

Drifter from around the wicket

Quicker one

Common Mode of dismissal when bowling over the wicket to a right hander (longer format)

LBW when batsmen play back, trapping the batsmen with the sharpness of the off break, length and pace the ball makes contact with the pad

Bowled through the gate conventionally

Slip or WK catch from the doosra/top spinner from the extra bounce and turn away making it difficult for a batter to middle

Caught at forward short leg from an off spinner with a batsmen prodding forward or from the top spinner with the ball popping up with the extra bite as the batsmen look to present the full face

Caught in a ‘catching position’ such as short mid wicket from a top spinner as the batsmen drives on the up

Common Mode of dismissal when bowling around the wicket to a right hander (longer format)

Caught behind or in the slips from the drifter, top-spinner or doosra at the batsmen chases it, pushes with hard hands or

just gets a top delivery angling across which he has to play

LBW from the off spinner drifting across, pitching in line and straightening

Bowled between bat and pad as the batsmen anticipates the doosra or drifter

Common Mode of dismissal when bowling around the wicket to a right hander (shorter format)

Stumped from the doosra/top spinner

Top edge from the doosra/top spinner making the stroke difficult to execute, bringing deep square leg into play

Leading edge from the doosra when the batsmen are trying to work it into the on side

Clean bowled from a quicker flatter delivery when batsmen are going for a wild swing or giving themselves room for the big shot. This is often built up with him being difficult to get away from his previous deliveries and batsmen thinking they have to force the issue or the chances of them surviving aren’t very favourable.

Batsmen taking the aerial route on the off side and unable to clear the infield from the doosra by not picking it or knowing the degree of turn

Common Mode of dismissal when bowling around the wicket to a left hander (long format)

Genuine edge from the off break, drawing the batsmen forward, dipping and spinning enough to find the edge for a slip catch

Bowled through the gate with the doosra with a gap between bat and pad when the left hander is playing for the off break

Chopping on from the doosra when looking for a cut as the ball spins back and skids on

Stumped, losing his balance when beaten by the off spinner

LBW with the doosra or straighter one with most deliveries pitching in line and turning in marginally or shooting on straight

Common Mode of dismissal when bowling around the wicket to a left hander (shorter format)

Caught in the ring, unable to get on top of the extra bounce from the top spinner or doosra when looking to drive on the up

Stumped when looking to charge by the off spinner

Clean bowled from a quicker flatter delivery when batsmen are going for a wild swing or giving themselves room for the big shot. This is often built up with him being difficult to get away from his previous deliveries and batsmen thinking they have to force the issue or the chances of them surviving aren’t very favourable and thereby try to put the pressure back on the bowler