’’A young and inexperienced Tendulkar had to face the likes of Waqar in his debut match!’’
I distinctly remember an expert making this comment whilst talking about Tendulkar!
And consider the fact that Waqar himself was also on debut!
But within a few matches Waqar carved for himself the reputation of one of the deadliest bowlers of all time! And for my money this guy will go down as the most feared ever! I havent seen much of Holding or cummins, but I refuse to believe that they were better than Akram, Ambrose or Shoaib, the likes of whom I have seen! Batsmen of today have better equipments and not to mention more helpful rules in their favor! Despite this the records of these bowlers hold horror stories for batsmen of all makes! And the sheer amount of cricket that these guys play also takes its toll, Waqar being a classic case! Before sustaining a serious injury, Waqar had tallied 200 wickets in just 38 matches, which puts him in second spot alongside australian pacer lillee! And that too having done most of his bowling on lifeless asian pitches!
Despite a career which made some of the most distinguished bats of all time look like caricatures, Waqar could have achieved more with a healthier body and a supportive board!
The fact that his lightning pace and reverse-swing became the hottest topic of cricketing world is no mean achievement! I even read a leading daily carry an article on Waqar; trying to explain with graphics and analysis how he generates so much pace! And who can forget the fact that he is perhaps the only bowler whose victims were identified by his name? The famous term ’Waqared’ still brings to memory legions of batsmen round the world with broken stumps, crushed toes and shattered confidence!
Much can be said but I’ll content myself by letting some great WestIndians do the job for me:
Even men of the experience of Desmond Haynes and Gordon
Greenidge were astounded when they faced the young debutant at Sharjah in 1989-90.
’’I just could not believe my eyes, the way he charged and generated that amount of pace, ’’ had said Haynes after the game.
And for all that has been and will be said about fast bowlers, this man, at his peak is definitely the most destructive figure the game has ever seen!