Legends of a sport usually have a signature move or characteristic. In cricket, many fast bowlers may have been able to bowl deadly "yorkers." However, no fast bowler ever did it with such devastating effect as Waqar Younis. Waqar allied tremendous pace with prodigious swing to form a well known fast-bowling partnership with Wasim Akram in the Pakistan cricket team.
Born in Punjab, Pakistan on November 16th, 1969, Waqar developed into a premier strike bowler for Pakistan in the late 80s and 90s. He made his First class debut in the 1987/88 season, while his Test debut for Pakistan came in 1989- just a couple of seasons later- against perennial rivals India.
According to Cricinfo's Kamran Abbasi, "Waqar Younis bucked the 1980s trend of pitching fast and short, by pitching fast and full." Waqar was renowned for the late, in-swinging "yorker" that catapulted the stumps or speared into the boots of batsmen. It was his wicked pace and in-swing that earned him an amazing Test match bowling strike-rate of 43.4 balls per wicket.
Waqar's incredible strike rate allowed him to scalp 373 Test wickets at an average of 23.56 from only 87 matches. His One-day international figures were just as exceptional. Waqar reaped 416 wickets from only 262 ODIs at an average of 23.84. His economy rate of 4.68 runs per over in ODIs does not suggest that he was miserly. However, Younis was an out-and-out strike bowler, not a 'dibbly dobbly' run-limiter.
Waqar Younis played cricket for several teams- other than Pakistan- between 1987 and 2004. The most notable of those teams include Karachi and Lahore, from Pakistan and Glamorgan and Surrey, from England. In 228 First class matches, Waqar took 956 wickets at an average of 22.33. He was no slouch with the bat either- scoring six First class half-centuries and averaging more than 10 runs per innings at Test and First class level.
Although Waqar was a valuable player to Pakistan, he had some grievances with Pakistan cricket authorities. Controversy and injury limited his appearances for Pakistan- although he played a lot of international cricket still. Waqar served as Pakistan's captain towards the end of his career. His last Test match was an ignominious innings defeat to South Africa in 2003.
Waqar Younis revolutionised fast bowling. perhaps he was not as intimidating or dangerous as other fast bowlers in cricket history were, but he was certainly more effective. The fast, full-length and in-swinging deliveries will be remembered as the hallmark of his game. When he retired from playing cricket in 2004, Waqar remained involved in cricket as a coach and commentator.
Waqar Younis Ending Ian Botham's Career by arynews
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3509066
Born in Punjab, Pakistan on November 16th, 1969, Waqar developed into a premier strike bowler for Pakistan in the late 80s and 90s. He made his First class debut in the 1987/88 season, while his Test debut for Pakistan came in 1989- just a couple of seasons later- against perennial rivals India.
According to Cricinfo's Kamran Abbasi, "Waqar Younis bucked the 1980s trend of pitching fast and short, by pitching fast and full." Waqar was renowned for the late, in-swinging "yorker" that catapulted the stumps or speared into the boots of batsmen. It was his wicked pace and in-swing that earned him an amazing Test match bowling strike-rate of 43.4 balls per wicket.
Waqar's incredible strike rate allowed him to scalp 373 Test wickets at an average of 23.56 from only 87 matches. His One-day international figures were just as exceptional. Waqar reaped 416 wickets from only 262 ODIs at an average of 23.84. His economy rate of 4.68 runs per over in ODIs does not suggest that he was miserly. However, Younis was an out-and-out strike bowler, not a 'dibbly dobbly' run-limiter.
Waqar Younis played cricket for several teams- other than Pakistan- between 1987 and 2004. The most notable of those teams include Karachi and Lahore, from Pakistan and Glamorgan and Surrey, from England. In 228 First class matches, Waqar took 956 wickets at an average of 22.33. He was no slouch with the bat either- scoring six First class half-centuries and averaging more than 10 runs per innings at Test and First class level.
Although Waqar was a valuable player to Pakistan, he had some grievances with Pakistan cricket authorities. Controversy and injury limited his appearances for Pakistan- although he played a lot of international cricket still. Waqar served as Pakistan's captain towards the end of his career. His last Test match was an ignominious innings defeat to South Africa in 2003.
Waqar Younis revolutionised fast bowling. perhaps he was not as intimidating or dangerous as other fast bowlers in cricket history were, but he was certainly more effective. The fast, full-length and in-swinging deliveries will be remembered as the hallmark of his game. When he retired from playing cricket in 2004, Waqar remained involved in cricket as a coach and commentator.
Waqar Younis Ending Ian Botham's Career by arynews
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3509066
