New Zealand seek Akram's services

Entertainment Cricket and Other Sports
1

New Zealand have approached Wasim Akram to help them out with the art of reverse swing. John Bracewell, the coach, and captain Stephen Fleming both raised the prospect in the last two days after Shoaib Akhtar’s devastating match-winning performance at Wellington.

Fleming admitted that all inputs received from Akram would be invaluable. He was speaking to the New Zealand Herald when he said,** “Why not go to the best, and if we can get him, great. I won’t be putting my hand up to have a bat during that time. Certainly if we can get the best players in the world at that skill, then it’d be great to learn.”**

New Zealand have produced some good exponents of reserve swing in the past like Danny Morrison, Geoff Allot and Shane Bond – who is injured for the current series. Fleming added,“That’s not disrespecting Danny Morrison, but different countries have different styles and we’ve seen one of the best countries at adopting reverse swing and how damaging it can be.”

Last month, Akram was linked with the role of the Indian bowling coach. This had caused a stir in Pakistan but Akram clarified that he had not been approached by the BCCI. However Akram hadn’t ruled out helping bowlers from other countries.

Fleming spoke about the lack of practice against such hostile bowling. “We don’t get exposed to 150kmh inswingers that often. It’s very hard to get facilities to practice that. I don’t think it was application or commitment that was missing, it came down to skill issue.”

2

Akram could get SOS call from NZ

New Zealand’s cricket brains trust have latched on to the attitude ‘if you can’t beat em, join em’ as they chase the great Wasim Akram’s services to learn about reverse swing.

New coach John Bracewell and captain Stephen Fleming both raised the prospect in the last two days after Shoaib Akhtar’s devastating match-winning haul of 11 for 78 in the second test here.

It gave him figures of 17 for 89 from just two tests against New Zealand, whose batsmen aren’t improving at all against his extreme pace and swing.

Input from retired Pakistani seamer Akram would be invaluable, Fleming said today.

“Why not go to the best, and if we can get him, great. I won’t be putting my hand up to have a bat during that time,” Fleming said.

“Certainly if we can get the best players in the world at that skill, then it’d be great to learn.”

New Zealand have some useful exponents of reserve swing to call on, namely Danny Morrison, injured star Shane Bond and the recently retired left-armer Geoff Allott.

Akram though is the master, with 414 test wickets and 502 one-day scalps before his retirement this year, having passed on the art of reverse swing to Akhtar and Mohammad Sami.

“That’s not disrespecting Danny Morrison, but different countries have different styles and we’ve seen one of the best countries at adopting reverse swing and how damaging it can be,” Fleming said.

Akram unwittingly caused a stir in Pakistan last month when Indian media reports said he had been enlisted to help India’s bowlers on their tour of Australia.

That came to nothing but Akram didn’t rule out helping bowlers from other countries, if asked.

Fleming said it was a vexing issue, with only Bond and perhaps Ian Butler providing New Zealand’s batsmen with reverse swing workouts.

"We don’t get exposed to 150kmh inswingers that often. It’s very hard to get facilities to practice that.

“I don’t think it was application or commitment that was missing, it came down to skill issue.”

NZ Herald

3

looks like every body has realized that wasim is the best bowling coach option, except PCB:bailan:

4

come on.... in the last test match, there comentators were saying the carp that there is nothignlike reverse swing, because it dindt happen in the game so far. but when Sami white washed them then mouths were zipped.. and the Captain and there coach are asking Wasim to coach there players.. cool wow... I think its time PCS makes a fast bowlers academy and make Wasim Waqar there coach and Imran Khan its chief Executive :)

5

Re: New Zealand seek Akram's services

[QUOTE]
Originally posted by hello143: *
Fleming spoke about the lack of practice against such hostile bowling. *"We don't get exposed to 150kmh inswingers that often. It's very hard to get facilities to practice that. I don't think it was application or commitment that was missing, it came down to skill issue."**

[/QUOTE]

Doesn't Shane Bond bowls around 150 kmh? He does know a lil bit how to swing the ball which he proved in a World Cup match against Australia earlier this year, didn't he?

I'll be surprised to know as Fleming never gets a chance of facing Shane Bond in the practice session.

6

Re: Re: New Zealand seek Akram's services

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Pakistani Tiger: *

Doesn't Shane Bond bowls around 150 kmh? He does know a lil bit how to swing the ball which he proved in a World Cup match against Australia earlier this year, didn't he?

I'll be surprised to know as Fleming never gets a chance of facing Shane Bond in the practice session.
[/QUOTE]

Shane Bond is fast but he doesn't consistently bowling 150s.
Once or twice a match, he will pass 150 but nothing else, I would say he is behind Sami in speed.

And I have seen him swing the ball quite effectively against Australia @ Port Elizabeth in WC maybe it was moisturous conditions in that match, but whatever it is, he is no match for Shoaib Akhtar.