Pakistan’s unlikely destroyer Mohammad Abbas exposes Australia’s obsession with express pace
PAKISTAN’S chief destroyer Mohammad Abbas bowls about as quick as the boys trundling down at your local club and the “fast” bowler has once again exposed Australia’s unhealthy obsession with express pace.
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THE man who used to work in a leather factory, has become his own factory for delivering leather.
Pakistan’s chief destroyer Mohammad Abbas boasts an extraordinary record in Test cricket bowling at an average speed of just 127km/h.
Australia is a blood and thunder fast bowling nation but Pakistan’s sudden hero is a bloke who bowls about as quick as the boys trundling down at your local club.
The mesmerising hold Abbas has had over Australia’s batsmen has perplexed Test great Mark Waugh.
In the past Australia has overlooked bowlers who aren’t considered express.
But Abbas’ success is not a new phenomenon.
In England earlier this year, he was officially recognised as the slowest pace bowler in world cricket, yet he took eight wickets in a man-of-the-match and man-of-the-series performance.
Abbas’ Test bowling average of 16.28 runs per wicket ranks him as one of the most dangerous reverse-swing exponents in the game.
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Listen to the whole interview below:
Abbas grew up idolising Glenn McGrath and has perfected the Australian master’s pinpoint line and length.
Australia’s highly-fancied spearhead Mitchell Starc, with all his extra height and bounce, managed just one wicket for the match.
Waugh says Australia’s batsmen only have themselves to blame for collapsing twice to the former welder.
“He’s a good bowler, but hang on, it’s Test match cricket,” said Waugh on Fox Cricket.
“As a batting group you’ve got to be disappointed with those dismissals. He’s not bowling 150km/h.
“The ball is swinging late, but it’s at (130km/h). It’s not Waqar Younis.
“As a Test match batsman you’ve just got to be better than that.
“If you’ve got a guy who is bowling low 130s swinging it reverse … that should not be getting you out, you should not get 4-29.”
One of Australia’s quickest ever fast bowlers Brett Lee said Abbas proved that you don’t need pace to be effective.
Abbas said his game centred around understanding his game.
“I know my strength. So I remain in that circle. I see what the team requires from me, what’s the requirement of the pitch, and I try to bowl accordingly,” he said.
“My pace is around 135. So I just try not to give away runs easily, and bowl wicket to wicket. I think that the reason of my success.”
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Originally published as Pakistan’s unlikely destroyer Mohammad Abbas exposes Australia’s obsession with express pace
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