Shoaib Akhtar-awesome

[thierry henry]

Now that he's bowled his last ball against NZ this summer, I think it's fair to make a thread to praise Shoaib Akhtar.

The guy is a brilliant bowler, definitely one of the best in the world. He has had his fair share of injuries, suspensions, and bowling action controversies, and as a result he hasn't played as much cricket as he should have over the years. But at the moment I couldn't imagine a more fearsome sight at the bowling crease.

I'd also like to commend his attitude, it's strange how much controversy has surrounded him because IMO he has perhaps the best attitude in the Pakistan team. He is always charging in and giving it everything, even when he's getting hit around, and he's one of the most committed fielders in the team, and even showed some fight with the bat at Napier.

But most of all I think he is a wonderful bowler, easily (consistently)the fastest in the world, but also a thinker who bowls brilliantly at the death in ODIs.

 

[nibbs]

word

 

[Craig]

I would rather face Lee any day then Shoaib.

Its the action thing really.

 

[thierry henry]

Also Craig, there's the whole "Akhtar is faster and better" thing.

 

[Craig]

And generally more accurate and has a brain and nows how to use it.

 

[nibbs]

Akhtar is the best at the death, because his yorkers are the shizz. He is at least 7 times better than Brett Lee...

 

[nibbs]

And generally more accurate and has a brain and nows how to use it.

Akhtar passion and determination is all good. He shows passion at the right level etc. Brett Lee is just weird. The way he celebrates dismissing a tailender, the anger on his face his just ridiculous.

 

[Pratters]

Akhtar is, as you said, AWESOME! I saw him trouble the South African batsmen in South Africa with sheer pace much before he bowled Dravid and Tendulkar with two consecutive balls in Eden and became a star and I knew right then he was going to be an exceptional bowler in years to come in world cricket. When Pakistan toured India I was most excited to meet Akhtar and get a snap with him and his autograph and not that of Akram or any of the other Pakistan 'stars'. A few days later he bowled that great yorker to Tendulkar.

The thing with Akhtar is not just pace. He pitches the ball so well in the danger areas. His accuracy with the yorkers is deadly too. He likes to speak his mind which not a lot of people in World Cricket do. That does mean more controversies than most though some times it is because of his own creation too.

 

[FRAZ]

I would rather face Lee any day then Shoaib.

Its the action thing really.

You what , I guess Wickramasinghe will suit you ...

 

[Richard]

Personally I wouldn't relish facing Pramodya, either, but I'd probably prefer face him than Lee (less risk of injury, but only slightly) and I'd certainly prefer face either rather than Shoaib.

 

[Richard]

Shoaib simply continues his good spell, it's now 8 months of almost non-stop good bowling.
The longest spell before now was about 5 months.
He has at times had a questionable attitude, not in matches, but in practice - he has wasted the extraordinary ability he has. He has not bowled with accuracy for many sustained periods.
Hopefully that is now a thing of the past. He'll still have bad days, everyone does, but hopefully they'll now be confined to the odd match, rather than starting a 10-match slide.

 

[Pratters]

Shoaib had a brilliant 2002 too.. so 2 gr8 years really of awesome bowling. He didnt play much in 2002 though, much like in 2003.

 

[Richard]

Shoaib in the first half of 2002 was brilliant, as I said.
In the second half and the first 3 months of 2003 he was terrible.

 

[Jono]

I really don't have anything else to say, Akhtar is brilliant. If he only he would run in between the wickets Pakistan may of won today

I laugh when Bret Lee does his stupid "Chainsaw" celebration when he bowls out a tailender after his opposition at 7/705. It's hilarious.

 

[Craig]

You what , I guess Wickramasinghe will suit you ...

Actually I would back myself against Lee.

Unlike Pickup, I'm not that bad. I just needs lots of work.

 

[iamdavid]

Actually I would back myself against Lee.

Unlike Pickup, I'm not that bad. I just needs lots of work.

No offense mate but I would fully expect Brett Lee to kill you.
Most people have no idea exactly how quick 150kph is.

Ive faced a bowling machine at 90mph & it is so quick it aint funny , by the time you pick the ball up its pretty much level with you.

 

[Richard]

I seriously struggle to react to bowling of 85 mph, the fastest I've ever faced, with a bowling-machine.
And I don't generally have much of a clue at even 70, from bowlers.
150 kph is unthinkably quick for even a good club batsman. Lee mightn't threaten to dismiss many decent batsmen but he is a serious danger to someone without the ability.