Although this match took place in '90, from '92 till his retirement Akram bowled fast-medium in the range 135-145 kmph due to groin injury, occasionally hitting 150 kmph. It was also during this period, atleast till '98, that Akram was consistently ranked the best bowler in both Tests(alongside Ambrose or Waqar) and ODIs(alongside Donald or later McGrath). Pace was never Wasim's key element, it was his ability to swing the ball on both sides of the wicket, control over line-and-length & his accuracy.
Every one else looked military medium next to him... There are clips of him bowling to the or in Australia in 1986. His pace combibed with his fast arm action (the most whippy and rhythmic I have ever seen) Alan Border and David Boon etc where just freezing and letting the bouncers hit their helmets. Also, how much has fielding changed in the last 30 years. Defreitas at 6.30 runs right past the boundary hit ball (didn't look like it was spinning), Richie Benaud said a 'great effort' and he did covere the ground quickly but if you did that now frankly by modern standards you probably would get a visit by the ICC /ECB anti corruption match fixing unit after the game. Anyway great clips and fond memories.
Wasim way too quick for everyone here. Hick had no idea. Botham way past his best here too. He's so late on the one that bowls him out from DeFreitas. Sad but comes to us all
Botham was undeniably way past his best by 1990, largely due to his complete indifference to fitness and training, but this was still nearly two years before he (fairly successfully) opened the batting for England in the World Cup.
@@mikeyp96 That's right he did. I suspect the big occasion still brought the best out of him. I remember him bowling out Allan Border at Sydney in that World Cup, same day he opened the batting and made 50 I think. He must've only been bowling at about 75mph but the ball ducked in late and was a beauty. Border just nodded in appreciation.
Ian Austin was funny. He'd play a match, shower, go to the pub until midnight and then stagger home and be ready for nets the next day! Didn't get a single qualification, found it difficult to even leave Lancashire for a couple of hours, and hasn't ever been out of the UK other than when forced to for cricket tours... But managed to have a successful county career and now part of his true passion running a brewery and drinking heavily every day! Amazing and simple man who used to get his mother to cook him pie, mash and mushy peas with gravy and four slices of Kingsmill extra thick bread smothered in butter every day for his packed lunch at the ground, apart from Sunday when he ate a roast. Legend of the north who lived his dreams without bothering others, sat in the corner of the pub on his own sinking pints and up to 20 packets of nuts and crisps each day, illiterate and keeping himself to himself. An example of finding true happiness from within.
Life Goals .Nice post. It was a pity his international career was really too late with the disastrous World Cup in 1999. He was fading then having been a seriously good bowler
@@randyschwaggins Yes, I know he was allegedly horrible about black people and hated people from foreign countries, BUT in his defence his father handed down those traits. No excuse I know, he refused to sign autographs for anyone of colour and allegedly put the kibosh on Lancs signing a West Indian quick. He tried to get Wasim Akram transfered for a while to keep the side white etc. He refused to face Wasim in the nets and would rarely speak to him. It almost made Ian quit. I know all this and it's awful, BUT again his dad was a racist, violent man and Ian was very sheltered so he ended up being blinkered and not knowing better. Hitting women I agree was awful and he had a hell of a temper, but nowadays you'd get therapy and counselling, he was a loner who played cricket, got drunk and lived in his mother's house until he retired. He needed help really. No excuse for racism I agree, awful. Just knowing people who knew him, most of it came out when he'd had a few drinks every evening and started calling people things if they came into his local (Asians, black people, southern English people and non-English people were the targets of his wraith). I can't defend that. He was troubled I know, but I try to see the good in people, and he was a superb fighter on the cricket field and very nice to his mother. *everything allegedly.
![1990 B&H Cup Final - Lancs v Worcs [2/2]](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
