Well, having checked out a good days play on the third, I could not help but rave and dedicate a few good words for the new leggie who makes heads turn a second time around.
And he is not a javelin thrower for a change.
His Repository:
A clean wicket to wicket delivery, high arm action (unlike Warnie), a good body swivel to turn the ball around. Controlled speed and flight so you cannot step out and chase him to hit him over the top. You try that, the delivery dips due to a good flight and you may find yourself a couple of steps too far down the crease to recover, the ball turning either too far away or the other way. The wrong’un is cleverly disguised and very well directed and does not drift down the leg-side, a problem that had rendered Kumble for a couple of years making him a little less ineffective.
The wrong’uns are accurate, not too many loose deliveries though loved those delectable tickles, glances and back-paddles sachin improvised to still get on top of him, else he had the whole Indian team flamboozled, including my favorite Sehwag.
This man has good variations and a great temparament. e.g. The bat-pad catch off Sachin that the ump turned down. Sachs decided he is not gonna walk on this one, come what may. Don’t blame him as he got some real cruel bat-pads Down Under ruled LBW against him that really had me wondering on the quality of some of the third country neutral umpires.
The other were the grin on his face even when catches went amiss at times - nothing like this kinda attitude to really get on top of the batsmen. And the best - well this man enjoys his stint to bowl and obviously loves his craft. 35 overs on the trot, legs feeling leaden, but the zeal and bounce in every step of his actoin and run-up speaks a lot more for his seasoned temparament unlike Qadir, whom Immie always had to shade during India tours. Qadir never liked being spanked on the field, and invariably went into a depression. This man invites and challenges to have a go at him - much the temparament the Indian spin quartet had during the 70s.
Our Sardarji needs to learn a thing or two from this man, as I had rightly predicted that two days out in the sun, and surd had to get his action examined. He did not have the bs to last two days going wicketless and seriously needs to do something of his tantrums and other coarse actions cum aggro on the field.
I am still running my mind to go over how to get this man getting at my neck at deliveries that keep just the yard or two shorter to drive, turn a lot, bounce and skip those 6-8 inches higher, hurrying off the Mohali wicket giving that extra purchase, with 4-6 guys crowded around and making jibes at any chinks in my technique. Been quite some time I seen 4-5 people crowding around Sehwag or for that matter any Indian batsmen - I don’t see Shoaib being missed on the tour.
The reward is those good 6 pack he got from our guys who had to walk back when the finger pointed to the sky.
I rate this one as the best product for 2005 to look around.