CRICKET BOWLER - IRFAN PATHAN
Born 1984 in Baroda, selected to play for India at the age of 19 years, Mathew Hayden is his first test victim in Adelaide on his tour to Australia, His fourth test victims in Sydney was Steve Waugh and Adam Gilchrist. These acts endeared Irfan Pathan to the whole of India since the beginning of his career. Irfan Pathan is a left arm medium fast seam, swing bowler. His not so latest figures are:
TEST MATCHES 39 wickets with strike rate of 28 runs to a wicket, with economy rate of 3 runs per over, he has taken 3 times 5 wickets and more in a test match.
ONE DAY INTERNATIONAL figures are 47 wickets with strike rate of 27 runs per wicket and economy rate of 4.98 runs per over.
NOT BAD for a 22 years old chap. His out swingers are the deadliest in the business today. I heard Wasim Akram saying in his match commentary Irfan Pathan is a quick learner and he changes his bowling perfectly to the discomfort of any batsman in the world.
Whenever I watch Irfan Pathan bowling to a very aggressive batsman, he is planning up to his run-up, he is planning during his run-up and his mind sends the swing of his arm so precisely and the landing of the ball in the air on the pitch and do a reverse swing or in swing or out swing or just go straight at fast pace is all extremely artistic on par and equal to the talent of Leonardo Da Vinci, this is not a cat and mouse tale, this is not predator or prey, this is a contest between 2 thinking breathing human beings, both are masters of their craft, both are darlings of their nations and millions of hearts, yet you don’t give your opponent an inch to score over you. The game of cricket extracts the biggest toll over its bowlers.
I think bowling is a bigger art than batting, bowling is just plain bare hands, your talent is your grip, your talent is your wrist, your talent is your stamina, your talent is your mind, your talent is control over the ball in the air, on landing, pushing with all the force existing in your body to out wit the batsman reaction powers. These elements combine with raw force to make you look lethal.
The batsman has his gloves, his helmets, his pads, his guard, his bat and his stationery stand to help him concentrate all he can on his art, if all else fails, he has still his body to block the ball with before the ball reaches the stumps. A soldier with full armour and bare hands soldier, who is better equipped. Boxing coaches tell you to save on your uppercuts or hook punches, each of them takes the energy of 20 jabs, there is no saving of energy for a bowler, he has to apply his full power in each ball he bowls. 30 overs a day bowling will make your body vegetable.
Without second opinion I tell you a bowlers job is more tougher than batsman, the demands on his body are more than heavy weight exercise, I think the wicket keeper and the pace bowlers are the most demanding jobs out in the field.
This is the very reason we find many bowlers and wicket keepers burn out quickly, batsman go on and on in their career, we must have proper support system for our bowlers. The management of Cricket bodies should give double wages to the 2 positions of bowler and wicket keeper. Compensations should be proportional to the hard work, ask any management graduate he will tell you the age of computing has made us see this very clearly. The trend should start from India, the biggest cricket playing nation, with the biggest cricket related revenue generation.
It is time India encourage talent by the incentives it is offering to bowlers, just bring this new incentive system, India will never have shortage of bowlers. I feel sad looking at Srinath, Prasad, Zaheer Khan and other talented bowlers suffering from injuries in the prime of their youth. They do a tough job and they should have better compensation. We should protect IRFAN PATHAN from injuries and we should not over burden this bowler. This youngster is very special, he should be provided special privileges, why not treat our heroes like heroes, it already took India 7 years to develop a swing bowler like KAPIL DEV caliber.
Everything about Kapil dev was special, so also everything about Irfan Pathan is special, don’t mistake it we don’t have other bowlers like him in first class cricket in India, it is a myth to think that we can replace him with others. The results India was able to achieve in Pakistan and Australia were contributions of Irfan Pathan, India should adopt scientific approach to the game of cricket. Stop listening to experts; just take care of players that is enough. Experts are there in India in tons, but we have only 11 players.
After live telecast of matches played by India has become mandatory by Court order, we don’t have to discuss the talents of Irfan Pathan, there are 1 Billion people watching this youngster with joy and his talents are the raw stock for other youngsters to follow him. Protect Irfan Pathan.
Forget the useless saying catches win matches, start saying BOWLERS win matches. It is about time match winners are treated properly, I have a video cassette with all the dismissals done by Irfan Pathan, Just take a look at the faces of batsmen leaving the crease on their way to pavilion, their looks are the proof and testimony to vast talent of Irfan Pathan. Our boy from Baroda has his parent’s blessings with him; lucky is the person who has blessings from his mother and father.
Yo India Say BOWLERS win matches!!!