ICC WT20 2016 - A Short Tournament Preview

So the ICC WT20 is upon us!! The Group A & B Matches are almost over with Afghanistan having proceeded already from the former after winning all their matches comfortably and more importantly playing a brand of cricket which is refreshing to see.

Bangladesh and Oman will face off today at Dharamshala to decide which of them will earn the right to play against Australia, India, New Zealand and Pakistan. Bangladesh will fancy their chances as they have in red hot form after beating both Sri Lanka and Pakistan in the Asia Cup which concluded recently.

Second Round - Super 10

Group 1 - England, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Afghanistan

Group 2 - Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Bangladesh/ Oman

India will face New Zealand in the Super 10 opener against a strong Kiwi outfit at Nagpur, a pitch which has afforded lots of turn already in the qualifying matches.

I expect the World Cup to be a close affair with each team having something in their favour and going for them. Yes, India starts off as the overwhelming favourites after their recent pyrotechnics but a couple of bad days can throw you out of the competition.

The teams that I expect will give India a run for their money are New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. South Africa looks tremendously strong on paper and has it in them to go all the way. The Trans-Tasman neighbours also boast of strong unit’s but their ability to play spin is questionable and might prove a hindrance in their progress.

The West Indies team is filled with T20 cronies who ply their trade all across the globe in various T20 tournaments. Whether they can all gel together and provide an eye popping display remains to be seen.

The English team is all playing an attacking brand of cricket and they even possess a good spin attack this time around but the inability of their batsmen to face quality spin might just go against them.

Sri Lanka are a team that often goes under the radar when any multi-nation tournament starts but which comes together beautifully with each player suddenly finding form at the right time. They have had a wretched run recently but have the ammunition to turn things around quickly.

Pakistan, after all the turmoil and indecision regarding their participation in the ICC WT20 have finally arrived in India. They are a dangerous unit and are at their best when chaos and confusion reigns supreme all around them. Beware of them, is all I would say to all other teams facing the Men in Green!

Afghanistan are the story of this tournament thus far, they have won hearts and captured the attention of fans all around. They certainly have the players who can give a tough fight to any top nation and with their array of spin bowlers they can prove to be a big headache for some of the teams.

I can’t wait for the first ball to be bowled on the 15th of March and I know neither can you!! Which team are you supporting? Which 4 team’s do you think will progress to the Semi-Finals?

The Trials and Tribulations of T20I Cricket for Australia and Sri Lanka!

Twenty Twenty Cricket is very much like a human life. It is very difficult to predict what it will throw up at you, it will surprise you at every turn and it will leave you dumbfounded every time you try to make a smart prediction about the game.

I have been interacting with a lot of Sri Lankan fans online and they think that their team is crap. It is filled with players who can’t bat, they seem to rely too much on a few bowling superstars and they also drop catches at will. They are plagued by selection issues and don’t have any decent all-rounders expect Mathews (who also cops a lot of flak for his negative captaincy and silly team selections); Dilshan is ageing fast and so are Malinga and Herath; players like Shanaka and Kapugedera are labelled domestic beast’s at the most. Chandimal has a dismal T20I record (he improved it a bit with 2 50’s in the Asia Cup) for all the natural talent and flair that he seems to possess while their star wicket-keeper Kusal Perera is embroiled in a doping offence. Thisara Perera only plays to his potential once in a blue moon and Senanayake cannot extract turn for his life. Players like Jayasuriya, Vandersay and Rajitha are said to be products of a dysfunctional domestic structure which seems to be rotting.

Now compare this lot to the current Australian team which is, on paper, probably the most attacking team in the world and should be winning everything and destroying every team that comes in their way. They have Warner and Finch, a dangerous right-left combo which is keeping another left-right combo in Watson and Khawaja on the sidelines. Their middle order is filled with enterprising batsmen like Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell. They have dangerous all-rounders like Mitch Marsh and James Faulkner who can take the game away from the opposition within a matter of a few overs with either the bat or the ball in hand. Their bowling, though it is missing the raw fire-power of Mitch Starc, still has just about enough reinforcements to complement their ultra aggressive and strong batting unit. All these men are hardened by playing in the extremely successful and competitive Big Bash League back in Australia.

There seems to be a vast gulf between the two sides but the results of the two teams have been very similar over the past two to three months as far as the T20I’s are concerned. Sri Lanka lost 0-2 to New Zealand away, and then lost 1-2 to India in India before crashing out of the Asia Cup with just a solitary win against UAE, losing to India, Pakistan and even Bangladesh along the way; thus winning only 2 out of their last 9 T20 internationals. Australia, on the other hand lost 0-3 to India in their own backyard before being marooned by the Proteas in the 1st T20I of the three match series yesterday; in effect losing their last 4 T20 internationals.

Momentum is, what I feel, the biggest single all encompassing factor in T20 cricket. It is like an avalanche which starts off with a small mound of snow but assumes the form of a humongous monster gaining momentum and feeding on itself, thus annihilating anything and everything that comes in its wake. On the other hand, a huge boulder even if it seems immovable, is cut eventually even by water if it just sits in its place doing nothing. T20 cricket can change very quickly, a single good innings or bowling performance can take a side home, a single brilliant catch or a run-out turn around the fortunes of a sagging outfit.

India has the momentum behind them and they are riding on that wave which is feeding on itself. Each man knows its role right down to the bottom and they are executing their acts perfectly. Sri Lanka and Australia may not be winning too many matches at the moment but all they need is one or two sterling performances, a few men to stand up and take the game by the scruff of the neck and their more experienced men to guide the youngsters while coursing through the troubled waters. T20 Cricket, like human life, is not giving in while being down but getting up and trying to win even in the face of tricky situations. If you do that consistently, then your luck will turn, and eventually life will smile at you and shower you with unmatchable happiness and success!

Impact of Sri Lankan Pace Bowlers in the WT20 2016, India

Fast bowling will be an important aspect in the ICC WT20 2016 even though the pitches are expected to be favouring the spin bowlers. Under lights, the ball is almost certain to dart around and even though the movement might last only for a few overs early wickets will mean that the opposition team will be under pressure right from the start. Sri Lanka have a strong pace bowling attacking comprising of the best T20 bowler ever, a bowler who can achieve banana swing on good days and a tear away quick who has impressed one and all in a short time. Let us analyse these three bowlers and the impact they are likely to create.

Lasith Malinga

A slingy round arm action, he is a genuine wicket taker both with the new ball and at the death with an older one. At his very best, he is capable of delivering 6 accurate high speed yorkers at the feet of the batsmen giving them absolutely nothing to work with. He has been on the international circuit for more than 10 years now and every batsman knows what’s coming but such is his accuracy and such are the variations which he has developed that he is still a force to be reckoned with. He has a couple of deceptive slower balls, a menacing bouncer and he is able to generate out swing to right handed batsmen on a consistent basis. When you throw in his unique action and the fact that he is remarkably accurate, he becomes a fire breathing monster for the opposition batsmen especially when they are under pressure to score quickly.

He is the only bowler to take three hat tricks in ODI cricket and remains the only man to have claimed 4 wickets off 4 successive deliveries in international cricket. He is returning from yet another knee injury and only time will tell if he can deliver high impact performances that he is known for.

Impact Rating – 8/10

Nuwan Kulasekara

The partner in crime with Malinga, Kulasekara has the ability to generate huge in-swing to the right handed batsmen while he is also capable to get it to snake away at the last moment. He can also bowl a lovely back of the hand slower ball and reverse the ball as well. It was Kulasekara, who along with Lasith Malinga bowled the wide of off-stump yorkers to perfection in the last WT20 final against India to strangle them in the death overs.

He is also a very capable lower order batsman who can hit big shots after getting his eye in. he has played 44 T20I’s for the Lankans claiming 48 wickets while giving away just around 7.25 runs per over.

Impact Rating – 6/10

Dushmantha Chameera

Chameera is an out and out quick bowler and I was very impressed by what I saw of him in the three T20I’s that he played for the Lankans against India earlier this month. He bowled with plenty of fire and generated disconcerting bounce that rattled the Indian batsmen even on slow tracks. He might not be a finished product by any means as he still lacks the consistency and accuracy at times but it will be exciting to see him unleashed along with Malinga for sure!

Impact Rating – 8/10

Sri Lanka has a great mix of pace bowlers who can be a big threat to any team and who will look to unsettle the opposition batsmen with pace and swing.

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Impact of Sri Lankan Spinners in the WT20 2016, India

Spin played a big part in Sri Lanka winning the WT20 2014 in Bangladesh last year and this year again it is all set to play a huge role on the outcome of the matches. The Indian tracks are renowned for the assistance that can provide and Lankans will be looking to exploit the turn and variable bounce to spin a web around the opposition. They have picked up a veteran spinner, a spinner who is back after remodelling his action and a young leg spinner. Let us have a look at all three in detail and the impact that they will have on the ICC WT 20 2016.

Rangana Herath

Herath made his test debut way back in 1999 and I remember watching that game live on the television. He had a carrom ball back then but with Murli already in the side weaving his magic Herath was brushed aside in obscurity. It was when Murli retired that Sri Lanka went back to Herath and found that Herath had not lost his bite or guile. His ability to turn the ball from the stumps while at the same time cleverly varying his pace and flight along with using the bowling crease inventively has meant that he has been a leading spinner in world cricket since the last few years. He has bowled several magical spells that have turned the match on its head and he is a master of deception and slyness.

He has played just 9 T20I’s for Sri Lanka but has taken 12 wickets at a stunning economy rate of under 6 runs per over. Although he is primarily a test match bowler, who can forget his startling spell of 3.3-2-3-5 in the last WT20 against the Kiwi’s in a do or die match for the Lankans where he spun a web of magical left arm spin bowling them out for just 60. He also played a crucial role in the final match against the Indians bowling his 4 overs for just 23 runs while also bagging a wicket. If his creaky knees can allow him stand up for one last mega tournament for Sri Lanka, then he is bound to have a huge impact on the outcome of its result.

Impact Rating – 8.5/10

Sachithra Senanayake

Senanayake was also a key member of the Sri Lankan side that won the WT20 the last time around but since then he has had to remodel his action after it was found to be illegal. He has lost the bite and is now visibly less effective but he has continued to perform in the Lankan domestic set-up thus earning a place in the 15 man squad for the Asia Cup T20I’s and the WT20.

Senanayake can bowl with the hard ball in the powerplay and is not overawed by the batsmen coming at him. He is also able to generate extra bounce because of his height which is difficult to deal with. In 86 T20 matches he has scalped 96 wickets while his economy rate of just around 6 runs per over is exceptional.

Impact Rating – 7/10

Jeffrey Vandersay

Vandersay is a leg break bowler who made his debut just last year. He did not have an exceptional Super T20 Provincial Tournament where he picked up just 2 wickets in the four matches that he played in. He was in the squad for the three T20I’s that Sri Lanka lost 1-2 against India but did not get a single game.

Impact Rating – 4/10

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Impact of Sri Lankan All-Rounders in the WT20 2016, India - Part II

As I have pointed out in my first post titled ‘Impact of Sri Lankan All-Rounders in the WT20 2016, India - Part I’, Angelo Mathews and Milinda Siriwardena will be the two key men that the Lankans will be banking on but they do have the services of two more all-rounders that can be drafted in depending upon the opposition and the conditions in general. Let us have a look at these two all-rounders and the kind of impact that they are likely to have on the mega tournament.

Thisara Perera

An attacking left hander, Perera has been with the Sri Lankan team for the last 6 to 7 years but is yet to truly fulfil the promise that he showed at school stage. He is a batsmen who can score at a blistering pace when set and he loves hitting in the arc between mid wicket and long on though he has worked on his off side game in the last year or so. He is capable of blasting a quick 30-40 in 15-20 deliveries to close the innings out and he was the catalyst that helped Sri Lanka win the ICC WT20 2014 in Bangladesh easily after he struck 3 huge sixes to score 23* in just 14 balls to seal the match for them.

He is also a bustling medium pace bowler who has variations of pace up his sleeve along with the disconcerting bounce that he sometimes is capable of generating. He recently claimed a hat trick against the Indians in the second T20I at Ranchi when he had Raina, Pandya and Yuvraj all caught out, becoming only the fourth bowler to do so in T20I format. He is also the only bowler along with Brett Lee to have claimed a hat trick in both ODI and T20I formats of the game. Perera can be a man who can unlock the answers to many questions simultaneously and be the high impact player for Sri Lanka in the ICC WT20 2016.

Impact Rating – 7/10

Shehan Jayasuriya

Shehan Jayasuriya made his international debut for Sri lanka late last year with a 40 off just 32 balls in a T20I against Pakistan at Colombo. He is an attacking left handed batsman who is capable of stepping on the gas and hitting the big shots. He particularly favours the off side and the area behind backward point is his favourite as he loves the cut shot.

He is also a right arm off break bowler who generally darts the ball into the batsmen’s legs cramping them for room and making shot making difficult. He has played 40 T20 matches so far scoring 698 runs at a strike rate of 114 runs per hundred balls and has taken 28 wickets at an economy rate of 7.23. His was a left field selection and not many within Sri Lanka are happy with it, Jayasuriya will have a lot to do to prove his critics wrong.

Impact Rating – 4/10

Thisara Perera and Shehan Jayasuriya might not play all the matches for Sri Lanka, but they do provide them with handy back up options in case they want to go with an extra medium pace or spin bowling all-rounder.

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Impact of Sri Lankan All-Rounders in the WT20 2016, India - Part I

Players who can perform with both the bat and the ball and change the complexion of the game are worth their weight in gold as they lend flexibility to the side and provide the captain with multiple options in the field. Sri Lanka have one of the best all-rounder in the game today, another who has risen quickly and is now one of their mainstays and a third one who, though supremely talented has not made full use of his potential. Let us evaluate all these three men in question and find out what impact they are likely to have on the ICC WT20 2016.

Angelo Mathews

Ever since he burst on the scene with that acrobatic fielding effort in the 2009 WT20, he has been an unstoppable force and a player who has played several high impact innings in pressure cooker situations for the Lankans. He is a genuine all-rounder - a fearsome hitter lower down the order and capable of bowling a nagging line and length with clever variations to fool the batsmen. Mathew’s greatest strength is his imperturbable temperament and his calm stature at the crease. He has often shepherded the weak Lankan tail and won matches on his own through sheer bloody minded composure and the ability to sense the correct time to launch an assault.

He did not play the three T20I’s against India since he was injured but he is now back for both, the Asia Cup T20I’s and the ICC WT20. A lot will depend on Mathews as far as Sri Lanka is concerned and they will hope that he can deliver for them once again in the crunch situations.

Impact Rating – 8.5/10

Milinda Siriwardena

Siriwardena made his international debut last year but he is already an indispensible part of this young Lankan line up. Possessing the rare gift of timing, a mere caress of his bat often sends the ball scurrying towards the boundary. Strong both off the front and the back foot - an elegant cover drive and pull shots are his major strengths. He is a very calm figure at the crease unperturbed by the pressures of a rising required run rate. He has played several high class knocks coming in the lower order and bailed Sri Lanka out of tight corners with Mathews.

He can also bowl handy left arm spin although the Lankan side tends to under-use him in my honest opinion. Siriwardena has played 9 T20I’s for Sri Lanka making 168 runs at a strike rate of nearly 150 runs per hundred balls while also picking up 5 wickets with his slow left arm spin. He will be a vital cog in the Lankan machinery who has the ability of make an impact with his explosive batting and his economical bowling.

Impact Rating – 7.5/10

Siriwardena, along with Mathews, will be the two main trump cards up the sleeve of the Sri Lankans and their fans will be hoping that these two can combine to provide solidity and fire-power to a relatively weak middle order.

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Impact of Sri Lankan Middle Order in the WT20 2016, India

The middle order will have its work cut out in the ICC WT20 2016 as the pitches in India will start to take turn and with the variable bounce factor also coming in, these men will have to put their heads down and score runs in an intelligent manner. Sri Lanka have a fairly inexperienced middle order, men who are yet to be established in this format at the highest level. There is no dearth of talent in three men that we will analyse but can they perform on the biggest stage remains to be seen.

Dinesh Chandimal

Dinesh Chandimal is a young man who has impressed one and all with his style and composure in the test matches and ODI formats of the game. When on song he is a difficult man to bowl to, he has all the proper shots in the book but at the same time he can be brutal and unconventional in his approach. One only needs to be remembered of his belligerent innings against the Australians in the 50 over World Cup in 2015 when his cameo nearly won them the match chasing a 350+ total. He cracked a high octane 160 against India last year to win Sri Lanka a match in which they had no business of even coming close to a win. The way he had man-handled Ashwin in that match still gives me chills.

But his aggression and flair always seem to go missing when it comes to T20 cricket as his stats show. In 34 T20I’s he has managed to score just 397 runs at a dismal average of 14.7 and strike rate just touching 100. His T20I stats might be down in the dumps but he sure has all the talent in the world to make a huge impact on the Lankan fortunes in the WT20.

Impact Rating – 6/10

Chamara Kapugedera

Kapugedera made his international debut as a teenager against the Australians and though he has been one of their star performers right from his school days he has not lived up to his talent on the international stage. He is powerful man and an ultra aggressive batsman who is strong all around the wicket but loves hitting the ball straight. He made a couple of decent contributions in the two matches that he played against India recently.

He is also a stunning fielder known for athletic saves in the circle and also for his out-fielding during the slog overs. He has not been in promising form recently but the Lankans will hope that Kapugedera can play to his potential which will be a huge plus for them in a middle order shorn of experience.

Impact Rating – 6/10

Dasun Shanaka

Dasun Shanaka played against India in all the three T20I’s and he is a clean striker of the cricket ball. He hit some big sixes in those three innings and though he could not make a big contribution, I loved his striking capability. He has a strike rate of over 160 in T20 cricket and he could be the joker in the pack for the Sri Lankans as a relatively unknown commodity; he can make a telling contribution. He is also a good medium pace bowler who grabbed 3 wickets when Sri Lanka defeated India on the green top in Pune.

Impact Rating – 6/10

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Impact of Sri Lankan Openers in the WT20 2016, India

The opening combination for any team will be the most important in the ICC World T20 2016 as it will be imperative to make use of the hard new ball and the field restrictions in the first six overs before the spinners come in and put on the choke. The Sri Lankans have gone in for a new comer in the opening position along with the experience of a veteran. Let us see how these two will combine and what impact they are likely to have on the WT20 2016 in India starting next month.

Tillakaratne Dilshan

Tillakaratne Dilshan might be on his last legs but he still retains all of his class and flair. He is a destructive batsman who loves to make a bit of room, free his arms and trash the ball through the cover region. Strong on the cut and pull he is not one to shy away from a battle and loves to takes the bowler on as he showed in the 2015 World Cup when he slammed 6 fours in an over off the fearsome Mitchell Johnson. He is also known for his innovation and daredevilry, the famed ‘Dilscoop’, named after him!

Dilshan loves the big stage and he was the Man of the Series in the 2009 edition of the WT20 and has been a high impact player for the Lankans in all formats for more than a decade now. He did not fare well in the 2 T20I’s that he played against India recently, Ashwin had his number on both the occasions but he is a true champion and will be a big threat to every team that comes up against Sri Lanka. The fact that he can bowl canny off-spin and is still the best fielder in the side says a lot about his fitness and agility.

Impact Rating – 8/10

Niroshan Dickwella

Dickwella is an aggressive left handed wicket-keeper batsman who made his T20I debut against India recently. Although he made just 5 runs in the two matches but one could see that he had an aggressive streak about him. He charged Ashwin and got a single off the very first ball that he faced in the 2nd T20I and then charged again off the second but was stumped as he missed the ball by miles. The fact that he had the confidence to use his feet against the main threat that India possessed showed that that he at least had the guts to take a champion bowler on and not get dictated.

He was selected on the back of his tremendous performances in the recently concluded Super T20 Provincial Tournament back in Sri Lanka where he trashed 3 fifties in just 6 innings to score 179 runs at a monstrous strike rate of almost 175 runs per hundred balls. If he can find his range and get into his groove then he can form a very potent partnership with Dilshan.

Impact Rating – 6.5/10

The Lankans might be missing their regular wicket-keeper opening batsman Kusal Janith Perera, but they do have Dickwella, who might still be raw but can be a lethal weapon if he can get some confidence under his belt early on and with the experienced Dilshan to guide him from the other end.

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Impact of England All-Rounders in the WT20 2016, India

All-rounders are a much revered species in cricket and their value increases manifold when talking about T20 cricket. They bat at 5-6 providing the difficult job of closing out the innings with big hits and they are entrusted to bowl to batsmen in full flow and expected to get them out. England, at the moment, is blessed with several all-rounders who give them the flexibility to tinker with their playing 11 depending on the opposition and the conditions. Let us glance at the impact that the English all-rounders are likely to make in the WT20 in India.

Ben Stokes

England were desperately crying out for a good all-rounder since the retirement of Andrew Flintoff and during their disastrous Ashes tour of 2013/14 where they were blown away 5-0 in the face of Mitch Johnson, rose Ben Stokes. He blazed away to a century at Perth and he bagged wickets in almost every innings. He was the find of the tour and after a minor slump in 2014; he has risen again to firmly take his place in the lower middle order for England in all the formats of the game.

He is a clean striker of the ball and is not intimidated by a challenge. Capable of playing all around the ground, he showed his audacious hitting prowess by clobbering a 258 off just 198 deliveries in a test match against South Africa. He also made two quick-fire half centuries in the 5 match ODI series that followed – all this, in addition to the numerous wickets that he took along with his equally dazzling fielding efforts. Stokes is a high impact player and he will be the most important player from an English point of view who can win them a game with either the bat or the ball on his own.

Impact Rating – 8.5/10

Chris Jordan

Chris Jordan embodies the perfect all-rounder and a perfect Twenty20 cricketer - bustling medium pace bowler, a hard hitting batsman down the order and a magnificent athlete anywhere on the field. However for all his attractive qualities, he has often lacked in consistency and has thus far failed to deliver on his true potential. He was way below par in the three ODI matches that he played against South Africa recently picking up just a solitary wicket but he came back roaring in the first T20I to claim 3 wickets in his 4 overs while also going at less than 6 runs per over.

Jordan is a lively bowler who looks to befuddle the batsmen with his changes of pace and his batting is all about hard hitting and he is someone who does not take a backward step and does not avoid a battle. He has played 10 T20I matches for England and taken 12 wickets at an economy rate which is on the higher side of 8 runs per over while he has made 95 runs at a strike rate of almost 130.

Impact Rating – 7/10

England also has Moeen Ali, who is also a genuine all-rounder, bowling off spin and who will be an important cog in the English line up. Stokes and Jordan, along with Moeen Ali are all players that can have a great impact on the game and possess the talent to change its course in matter of a few overs.

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Impact of England Pace Bowlers in the WT20 2016, India

Spin bowling will certainly be the key to success in the upcoming World Twenty20 in India but the role of fast bowlers cannot be brushed aside. Bowlers who have variations and who can reverse the ball (yes, it can happen even in 20 overs) and swing it under lights will be a difficult proposition on pitches which might be two paced and not conducive to hitting through the line. Let us have a look at the English pace bowlers and analyse the impact that they are likely to have in the mega event which begins next month.

Reece Topley

Reece Topley is a lanky left arm pace bowler capable of swinging the ball both ways at a decent pace. He also has a deceptive slower ball which is hard to pick up and given his height he will be a difficult customer to face on the uneven pitches of India. He had a stellar ODI series against the strong South African side where he finished as the highest wicket taker from either side, picking up 10 wickets in 5 matches. He will have to work on his control though as he went at more than 6 runs per over during that series and even in the first T20I he travelled at 9 runs per over.

Overall, he has played 53 T20 matches picking up 76 wickets at a strike rate of 15 and an economy rate of over 8 runs per over. He is a good find for England as he has the tendency to pick up wickets and even though he may be a bit expensive, having a genuine wicket taker in your ranks is always a positive.

Impact Rating – 7/10

Steven Finn

Steve Finn is also a lanky pace bowler like Topley but he bowls right handed. Finn, at the peak of his powers had the ability to trouble the best batsmen with his pace and uncomfortable bounce. But problems with injuries and his habit of knocking down the stumps at the non-strikers end in his delivery stride meant him having to change his action and left him low on confidence. But he has worked hard with the England Lions team and has come back rejuvenated and has gradually built up his pace as well. He has the ability to swing the ball and if he can get his act together, he will certainly be more than a handful even in India. He has played 21 T20I’s for England picking up 27 wickets at an economy rate of just over 7.

Impact Rating – 7/10

David Willey

David Willey is the son of former England all-rounder turned Peter Willey and is the preferred choice ahead of Finn at the moment for England. It is probably because he gives them the option of a hard hitting batsman lower down and because he is a very good fielder too. He has picked up just a solitary wicket in the four matches (3 ODI’s and 1 T20I) on the tour to South Africa and has not contributed much with the bat as well so his place will certainly under the scanner. But at his best, he is a good left arm swing bowler who can deliver at decent pace.

Impact Rating – 6/10

In addition to these three, England also have Ben Stokes and Chris Jordan who can be used as medium pace bowlers and who also provide them with batting fire-power as well.

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Impact of England Spinners in the WT20 2016, India

Spin bowling is an area where English cricket has always lagged behind other teams and although Greame Swann provided them with all the natural guile and variations, he was more successful in tests than in the shorter formats of the game. Spin bowling will be the key in India as the pitches will surely help the slower bowlers get turn and bite and as the tournament goes deeper, the assistance will only increase thus making good spinners genuine impact players for any team. England, for once, has all the bases covered and boasts of a very decent spin bowling line up for the ICC WT20 2016 with a leg-spinner, an off break bowler and a slow left arm orthodox bowler, all in their ranks!!

Adil Rashid

Adil Rashid is a leg break bowler who has been on the radar of the English team since a very long time. He has a big turning leg break and a treacherous googly which makes him more than a handful for any batsmen. Throw in his changes of pace, the variations of flight and the dip that he generates – he becomes a menacing and a real threat. He has played 111 T20 matches picking up 124 wickets at an average of 22 and an economy rate of just over 7.

He has been in good form with several eye catching performances against the South African team both in the recently concluded ODI’s and the ongoing T20I’s. He has been economical in the middle overs while keeping his own against the likes of attacking batsmen like de Villiers and Duminy, pegging the run rate back while also picking up important wickets. He is also a handy lower order batsman capable of hanging around and hitting out when required.

Impact Rating – 7/10

Moeen Ali

Moeen Ali is an off break bowler who for all practical purposes is considered to be a part time bowler but he is in reality much better than that. England used him as an opening bowler in the last WT20 regularly and he did not bowl that badly. Moeen has the ability to turn the ball occasionally with his quick arm action but he usually darts the ball into the batsman’s pads, not providing him the room to swing the bat.

He has formed a potent partnership with Adil Rashid and both of them have been key figures for the English in the middle overs helping them keep the opposition in check and at the same time also picking up key wickets denting the opposition. The fact that he is also a very clean striker of the ball and can bat anywhere in the order, provides England both great flexibility and room to play around with.

Impact Rating – 7/10

Liam Dawson

Liam Dawson is a slow left arm orthodox bowler who is perhaps in the squad only to cover for Rashid and Ali. He has been given a chance after catching the eye of the selectors with his performances for the England Lions team, both with the ball and the bat.

Impact Rating – 5/10

England definitely has the goods to become a nuisance to other teams with this line up of spinners. Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali will be the key men for them and Morgan will hope that the duo can keep up with their recent impressive outings against the Proteas.

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Impact of England Middle Order in the WT20 2016, India

The middle order of England seems to be in very good health with three very different batsmen occupying the slots 3-5. The middle order batsmen in the World Cup are all set to be severely tested by spin bowling and England have batsmen who are capable of holding their own against the slower bowlers on turning pitches. Let us analyse each of them and what they bring to the table and the impact they are likely to have on the English performance.

Joe Root

He is a naturally gifted played capable of playing on any surface and excelling in any format of the game. He has a water tight technique along with a calm head and unflappable temperament that helps him shine in all situations. He can score quickly through conventional shots but has unorthodox shots like the reverse sweeps and paddles in his armoury as well. Root has played 13 T20I’s for England scoring 311 runs at an average of over 34 and a strike rate almost touching 130 runs per hundred balls. He is also a very deceptive off break bowler who is rarely called upon but provides the team with a breakthrough on most such occasions.

His maturity and calmness at the crease might just be the tonic that England needs to prosper amid all the big bashing batsmen that they have strewn all around their batting line up. He could be the gel that binds the innings together with sensible batting while the others can do all the violence and try to bash everything in orbit!

Impact Rating – 7.5/10

Eoin Morgan

Eoin Morgan is the English captain and an inventive and audacious striker of the cricket ball. Known for his sweeps and reverse sweeps he is adept at facing spinners and creating havoc in their line and lengths. He is also a very clean hitter straight down the ground against the quicker bowlers.

Known for his calming influence at the batting crease, he is seldom ruffled by all that is happening around him and is considered to be amongst the best finishers of the game by the English management. He has a very good record for England in the T20I’s playing 55 matches for almost 1300 runs with the strike rate in the 130’s but he has been in wretched form during the limited overs leg during the South African tour. England will hope that he can rediscover his form and magic in time before the World Twenty20 begins next month.

Impact Rating – 7/10

Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler brings to the table innovative and expansive batting, which is both brutal and full of flamboyance. He has two of the fastest ODI hundreds for England and he recently smashed a 73 ball ton against South Africa as England ramped up 399 runs at Bloemfontein. Buttler is a master of innovation and his fearless approach in the middle order has served him and English cricket well up until this point. Consistency is one feature that he needs to work on though, as after a manic hundred and a 48* off 28 balls in the first two ODI’s against South Africa, his form tapered as he made 0, 1, 0 in the last three matches.

Impact Rating – 8/10

This middle order is strong enough and can be extremely dangerous especially if they are given a good launching pad by the English opening batsmen.

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Impact of England Openers in the WT20 2016, India

England are a team that, traditionally, does not play spin bowling very well and hence the onus on its openers to provide a rapid start while the ball is still new and hard, and fast bowlers are probably in operation is all the more imperative. England has one opener who is in the form of his life and hitting the ball as sweetly as anyone else in the world while the other spot is debatable. Let us look at the impact that the English Openers will have on the ICC WT20 2016.

Alex Hales

Alex Hales had a horror run in the four match test series against South Africa where he struggled to lay bat to ball but he has been in punishing form in coloured clothing, making 5 consecutive half century scores in the ODI series that followed, including a hundred and a 99. He hits the ball cleanly and likes thrashing the ball straight, a virtue that helps him keep his body shape intact. He is also strong on the back foot and likes cutting and pulling anything which is even remotely short. He has all the shots in the book and will be the key man for England while opening the innings.

His whirlwind 64 ball 116* in the last WT20 helped England beat Sri Lanka, the eventual champions, in the group match. Hales has played 38 T20I’s for England and has an impressive average of over 34 and a strike rate almost touching 140 making him a high impact player for the English in the shortest format of the game.

Impact Rating – 8/10

Jason Roy

A hard hitting and an extremely destructive opener, Jason Roy is an English opening batsman born in South Africa. A clean striker of the cricket ball down the ground, he also revels in playing unconventional shots like the switch hits. He started the ODI series against South Africa with a bang, smashing 48 off just 30 balls but his form has since deserted him. Consistency is always a difficult virtue for attacking opening batsmen, only a few are able to maintain that for long. Roy has played 7 T20I’s and with a highest score of just 29 is yet to carry his domestic form to top flight cricket.

He will be under severe pressure from James Vince, a batsman in the mould of Ajinkya Rahane who plays more conventional shots but has an impressive record. Jason Roy might have one last chance to prove himself in the second T20I which is slated for tomorrow night.

Impact Rating – 5/10

James Vince

James Vince is a young man who has been tipped to do well in all formats for England by those who have seen him. He made an impressive debut for England in T20I’s against Pakistan where he made 125 runs at an average of 41 in the three matches. He represented Karachi in the ongoing PSL and had only an average outing, not making a 50 in 7 innings.

Impact Rating – 5/10

England will have to choose between Roy and Vince for the second openers slot considering the form that Hales is currently in and him bedding his place down.

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Fantastico Malinga, Mathews Return for WT20, Asia Cup

Sri Lanka finally announced their 15 Man Squad that will take part in the Asia Cup T20I’s and the subsequent World Twenty20 that follows in India in March-April. The young and green team that lost to India was given a minor makeover with several of the injured seniors making a much anticipated comeback to the national side ahead of the big tournament.

Sri Lankan skipper and their talismanic bowler, Lasith Malinga; his partner in crime, Nuwan Kulasekera; their vice-captain and middle order stalwart, Angelo Mathews; and their lead spinner, Rangana Herath have all been named for both the events. All these Fantastico players had missed the three match T20I series that was recently played in India which the Lankan team had convincingly lost 2-1.

Wicket-keeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella, who failed in both the matches that he played in India, has also been picked ahead of Dhanushka Gunathilaka who also had an ordinary series. Kusal Janith Perera remains suspended over a doping offence and his status on the same remains unclear. He was a key link to providing Sri Lanka with explosive starts at the beginning of the innings and he will be a huge loss for the Lankans in my opinion.

Sri Lanka retained Jefferey Vandersay, the leg spinner who did not play a single match in India, while Kasun Rajitha, the fast bowler who was the man of the match in their victory at Pune was dropped. Veteran fast bowler Dilhara Fernando who played the third T20I against India was not picked in the squad either. Sachithra Senanayake has also been picked along with off spinning all-rounder Shehan Jayasuriya, who is a big hitter down the order.

Dilshan will be the key at the top of the order and Sri Lanka will hope that he can rediscover his form and flair at the right time. Dinesh Chandimal, Kapugedera and Milinda Siriwardena are also all in the squad although I am not too sure about Chandimal’s selection as he looked totally lost in the T20 format up until now. Seam bowling all-rounder Dasun Shanaka has also been named in the squad and I loved his peppy hitting in the India series and he should open with Dilshan in my view and Dickwella should be pushed down in to the middle order.

The Sri Lankan bowling which lacked penetration against India will be significantly bolstered by the returning Malinga and Kulesekera who will team up with the tearaway quick Dushmantha Chameera and wily left arm spinner Rangana Herath. They will be ably supported by Angelo Mathews, a superb all-rounder while players like Siriwardena, Dilshan and Shanaka can all roll their arm over as well giving Malinga with plenty of options.

Although to the naked eye it might seem a bit light in the batting department, this is a pretty decent side with some high impact players, who, if they get on a roll, will be very hard to stop.

Sri Lanka 15 Man Squad for World T20 2016 and Asia Cup:

Lasith Malinga (captain), Angelo Mathews (vice-captain), Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Niroshan Dickwella, Shehan Jayasuriya, Milinda Siriwardana, Dasun Shanaka, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dushmantha Chameera, Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake, Rangana Herath, Jeffrey Vandersay.

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Liam Dawson the only New Face in England's 15 Man Squad for the WT20 2016

England announced their 15 man squad that will take part in the ICC World Twenty20 2016 to be held in March-April in India from next month. There were not many surprises in their squad which comprised of just one uncapped player – Liam Dawson, a slow left arm orthodox spinner from Hampshire.

Eoin Morgan will be in charge of a youthful and energetic side, featuring peppy young players, all of whom are known for their fearless brand of cricket, a far cry from the days when England looked lost in the shorter formats of the game. The most notable omission from the squad was Kevin Pietersen, whose inclusion might in any case have been a long shot, considering his squabbles with the English board and Andrew Strauss, once a team-mate of Pietersen and now the Director of England Cricket.

Their batting will be led by the exuberant Jason Roy and Alex Hales who will be well supported by the next big thing in English Cricket, Jos Buttler. Captain Eoin Morgan and Joe Root will take care of the middle order while the hard hitting and high impact all-rounder’s Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali will be expected to provide the finishing touches to the massacre. They also have Sam Billings and James Vince as a back up to these established players and both of them are playing in the PSL which will certainly stand them in good stead with regards to the conditions that can be expected in India.

There is plenty of flair in the bowling department as well even with the omission of Stuart Broad who was a part of their victorious campaign in the West Indies in 2010. The two left arm bowlers who are currently doing very well for them in the ongoing ODI series against the Protea’s, David Willey and Reece Topley are both there in addition to Steve Finn whose pace will give England plenty of room to work with.

The spin bowling department, which was once their Achilles heel, is also brimming with a lot of talent and flair. There is the leg spinner, Adil Rashid, who after a brilliant Big Bash League is continuing his splendid form in the ODI matches against the South Africans. Then there is Moeen Ali, a very under rated off break bowler but perfectly capable of picking up wickets with his guile and variations. Then there is the uncapped Liam Dawson, a slow left arm orthodox bowling all-rounder who has done very well recently with the England Lions team.

It is a very competent 15 man squad that the English have announced with plenty of impact players and they will also have the assistance of Paul Collingwood (the 2010 WT20 winning captain for England) and Mahela Jayawardena (Former Sri Lankan batsmen and captain who was a part of the WT20 winning team in the last edition), both of whom will certainly lend plenty of advice on batting and the Indian conditions in general.

England WT20 2016 Squad: Eoin Morgan (Middlesex) (Captain), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Sam Billings (Kent), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), Reece Topley (Hampshire), James Vince (Hampshire), David Willey (Yorkshire)

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Impact of Pakistan Spin Bowlers in the WT20 2016, India

Spinners are expected to dominate the ICC World Twenty20 in India as the Indian pitches will surely aid them in getting turn and as the tournament goes on, the pitches will wear out and tire, further assisting the slower bowlers and making spin bowling a huge factor in the mega event. Pakistan have picked a strong pace bowling unit for the event but their spin bowling department lacks the bite as they have opted to place their faith in part timers rather than go for a specialist spinner.

Shahid Afridi

Shahid Afridi, at 36 years of age is still the greatest crowd puller that Pakistan has ever produced. Call him whatever you like – a mindless slogger, a showman, an inspirational leader or just a freak – one thing is for certain, Afridi has always played the game will all his heart and though he may have done a bit better if he had utilized his brain too but that is just pure conjecture on our part.

In addition to being the captain of the Pakistan team, he will be leading the Pakistani spin bowling attack as their premier spin bowler. He has all the variations in his armoury; a big turning leg break, dangerous googly, a deadly faster one and when all is combined with the natural drift that he so easily seems to achieve, he becomes a viable threat to any batsman facing up to him.

He is also capable of winning them matches with his authoritative batting, which is audacious and nerve-tingling to say the least. He was their star performer in 2009 when Pakistan went on to win the World T20 in England, putting in stellar performances with both the bat and the ball in the knock out phase. He is certainly their most impact player and if he gets in his groove early, then he surely will make Pakistan rock!!

Impact Rating – 8/10

Imad Wasim

Imad Wasim is a slow left arm bowler who is also a capable middle order batsman. He made his debut just last year and impressed me with some very good performances against the Sri Lankan side. He has played 8 T20I’s for Pakistan and has an impressive economy rate of just about 6 runs per over while also striking the ball at an impressive strike rate that is touching 160.

Impact Rating – 5/10

Mohammad Nawaz

Mohammad Nawaz has been a revelation in the ongoing PSL where he has bowled several match turning spells with his slow left arm orthodox bowling. He is also a handy lower order batsman who can score runs if needed by the team. Although he only has 17 wickets in 31 T20 matches but his economy rate of less than 7 is much more eye catching.

Impact Rating – 4/10

With Yasir Shah out for 4 months for a doping offence and Hafeez banned from bowling due to an illegal action, Pakistan has lost two genuine spin bowling options and hence opted to go in without any specialist spinner in their squad. They will be banking on their Fantastico captain and eccentric leg spinner Shahid Afridi to carry the spin bulk-load on his shoulders and lead them to glory.

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Impact of Pakistan Pace Bowlers in the WT20 2016, India - Part II

In this Part – II of the ‘Impact of Pakistani Pace Bowlers in the WT20 2016, India’, we look at three bowlers who are young but astoundingly talented – one on a comeback trail after serving a 5 year ban for spot-fixing, one trying to establish himself in the pecking order and another who will be looking to make his debut and get a chance to impress if given a chance to play.

Mohammad Amir

Mohammad Amir arrived on the world stage as a teenage pace sensation and immediately made a strong impact on anybody who saw him bowl. He was not only quick but could move the ball both ways, with either the new or the old ball in hand. He was one of their lead actors in Pakistan’s maiden and only World T20 trophy win in 2009 held in England. He bowled quite a hostile spell for them throughout the extravaganza, the most memorable being his taming of the tournaments highest run getter, Tillakaratne Dilshan, in the final, peppering him short balls and finally getting him in the first over for a 5 ball duck.

By the time 2010 arrived, Amir had become of one the world’s best pace bowlers and he had a stellar tour to England when he became the youngest bowler to reach 50 test wickets. But soon after he became embroiled in the spot-fixing scandal and was banned for 5 years upon being found guilty of the heinous offence. He has just made his return but seems to have lost neither his pace nor his swing. He had a fine tour to New Zealand picking up regular wickets with his movement and speed and he has been amongst the wickets in the ongoing PSL as well, having also claimed a hat-trick. He has made a grave mistake in the past, but I hope that he is reformed because the talent that he possesses is rare and it would be a shame to lose a bowler of his calibre to the lure of money.

Impact Rating – 8/10

Anwar Ali

Anwar Ali made the world sit up and take notice when in the 2006 U19 World Cup Final against arch rivals India at Colombo, he sliced through the Indian batting line up with pace and swing, to leave them reeling at 6-9, Pakistan ultimately winning the match by 38 runs even though they were bowled out for just 109 batting first. He has been in good form recently, picking up wickets in New Zealand and the ongoing PSL. He is also a very capable lower order batsman with a strike rate of over 140 in the 15 T20I’s that he has played for Pakistan. He is adept at making the ball talk and he provides the right hand variation amongst all the left arm pacers that Pakistan has picked for the mega event.

Impact Rating – 7/10

Rumman Raees

Rumman Raees is also a left arm medium pace bowler who has been picked up as a back bowler after a strong showing in the ongoing PSL. He has been miserly in the PSL and is amongst the most economical bowler on show.

Impact Rating – 4/10

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Impact of Pakistan Pace Bowlers in the WT20 2016, India - Part I

Pakistan has always managed to produce quality fast bowlers at the drop of the hat. They have picked up a strong pace bowling line up that will look to trouble the opposition batsmen with their speed, precision and movement. Pakistan, currently have a plethora of exceptional left arm pace bowlers coming through their ranks and even though it may seem one dimensional to the naked eye, all the left arm pacers bring something different to the table.

Wahab Riaz

Wahab has all the qualities of a tearaway quick bowler, high pace, aggression and the ability of move the ball but he has lacked consistency for most part of his career. He took 5 wickets in the Semi Final against arch rivals India in the 2011 World Cup but it was not enough to prevent a loss for Pakistan. He was at his very best in the Quarter Final of the 2015 World Cup as well, where he bowled a memorable and devastating spell to Shane Watson – that spell surely ranks as one of the greatest ever in ODI cricket – although, as luck would have it, it was again not enough to win Pakistan the game.

He has a quick bouncer and a nasty late swinging yorker and he has been in splendid form in the ongoing PSL where he has snaffled 10 wickets in only 6 matches. He is also a very handy lower order batsman capable of using the long handle to good effect. A total team man, he will always give his 100% and his high impact bowling will certainly test more than a few batsmen from around the world.

Impact Rating – 8/10

Mohammad Irfan

Rarely do you get a bowler who is almost 7’1’’ in height and when a bowler with that height generates pace touching 140-145 kph, then it becomes a serious issue for any batsman trying to negotiate him.  Irfan, with his extra height, generates disconcerting bounce even off a good length and when combined with his high pace and his ability to move the ball he becomes almost demonic.

His career has been riddled with injuries and he played only a couple of ODI’s on Pakistan’s recent tour to New Zealand. He has just returned to cricket and is currently playing for the Islamabad team in the PSL. It will be treat to watch Irfan if he is fully fit and bowling with gas. He has the ability to make the batsmen hop even on dead pitches and negotiating him will be a severe test of a batsman’s ability and character.

Impact Rating – 7.5/10

Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Irfan are definitely the key bowlers in the Pakistan pace bowling line up and Pakistan will require both of them to be fit and firing for the ICC World Twenty20 2016 to be able to go deep in to the tournament. Both are capable of bowling match winning spells and their 8 overs will be a test for any opposition especially under lights when the pitches might just do a little bit.

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4 Uncapped Players in Pakistan 15 Man Squad for ICC WT20 2016 and Asia Cup

Pakistan named their 15 man squad for the ICC WT20 2016 and the Asia Cup T20's and there are quite a few surprising choices and plenty of new faces that they have opted for. They have gone in with four uncapped players in the T20I format - batsmen Babar Azam and Khurram Manzoor, all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz and left arm seamer Rumman Raees - in addition to the lanky pacer Mohammad Irfan who returns to the squad after missing the New Zealand T20I's due to an injury.

The selection of Khurram Manzoor, an opening batsman who has played 16 tests and 7 ODI's for Pakistan, the last of which was way back in 2009, was the most baffling selection as his stats are modest to say the least and he does not have anything going for him to warrant a selection. The exclusion of Ahmed Shehzad was almost a foregone conclusion after a string of failures and low scores during the last year but there might have been a better option for Pakistan than Manzoor, in Mohammad Rizwan, Fawad Alam or Haris Sohail, all both of whom are exceptional fielders and can bowl too.

Pakistan might push the busy wicket-keeper bat Sarfraz Ahmed to open alongside Hafeez as he has often been left stranded with the bowlers. He is one of their best players of both pace and spin and hits the ball cleanly and is also a good runner between the wickets which is an added advantage.

The pace bowling attack of Pakistan seems to be in excellent health as usual with left arm seamers Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan and Wahab Riaz all in the squad along with new comer Rumman Raees to complement right hander Anwar Ali. Rumman has been drafted in, on the back of a splendid showing in the PSL so far where he has been both economical and also amidst wickets. This bunch of exceptional fast bowlers will surely have an impact on Pakistan's fortunes in the WT20 as bowling has always been their strongest suit.

Strangely though, Pakistan have not named a single specialist spinner in the squad, rather showing faith in their part timers like Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Imad Wasim and the uncapped Mohammad Nawaz who had been the standout performer with the ball in the ongoing PSL. This decision was perhaps forced as Yasir Shah, their premier leg spinner is banned for four months for a doping offence. Hafeez remains unavailable to bowl since getting banned for an illegal bowling action.

The squad will be captained by the maverick Shahid Afridi who is their most impact player both with the bat and the ball and he will be hoping to lay his hands on the silverware that Pakistan last won under Younis Khan, way back in 2009.

Pakistan 15 Man Squad for the ICC WT20 2016: Shahid Afridi (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Babar Azam, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Khurram Manzoor, Rumman Raees

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How are Pakistan able to produce so many Good Fast Bowlers?

If you ever ask a cricket fan from India what is it about Pakistan cricket that they envy and the answer will almost be instantaneous. India has always had the batting strength but its fast bowling stocks are often bare. On the other hand Pakistan has managed to produce fast bowlers as though they are made on an automatic assembly line. I was not fortunate enough to see the legendary Imran Khan in action but have been lucky enough to witness Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Aaqib Javed and Shoaib Akhtar during the late 1990's through to the early 2000's.

They have continued to produce fast bowlers even after the retirements of the above mentioned fast bowling magnates. The answer as to why and how Pakistan is able to produce such Fantastico fast bowlers one after the other is one which we can only contemplate and think upon with our own assumptions thrown in.

The most important factor I guess is that Imran Khan took bowlers like Wasim and Waqar under his wings and mentored them. When a legendary figure guides you and teaches you the nuances of the game and if you are eager to learn yourself and quick to pick up then it forms a potent concoction for success. Imran was a star and he always had a hand wrapped around the shoulder of his young turks, Wasim and Waqar continued the trend by guiding Shoaib through his early years. The young kids growing up, when they have heroes to look up to, someone they can try to emulate makes for a very important factor in Pakistan being so successful at finding raw fast bowlers.

Another factor is the popularity of taped tennis ball cricket culture in Pakistan. In every street and lane, you come across kids playing cricket with a tennis ball which is taped to make it slightly heavier. Now if you decide to bowl fast with a tennis ball you must have a strong upper body and a quick arm action so as to be able to hurry the batsmen. This early lesson certainly has a big impact when the kids go on to play international cricket.

The last factor which I can only guess helps Pakistan produce fast bowlers is the respect and adulation that they get from their fans. The average Pakistani fan adores a fast bowler and a fast bowler is worshipped in Pakistan just like we Indians swear and worship our batsmen. This manic encouragement is such an important ingredient which goes into producing legends we know.

Till the time Pakistan continue to nurture and adore their fast men, till their kids have stirring figures to look up to, Pakistan will continue to produce fast bowlers who are the envy and at the very same time the pride of the entire cricketing world.

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