The deep thoughts of Shoaib Akhtar

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Oct 12, 2008

By Scott last year, at the start of September Leave a comment on this post

Thus spoke Shoaib:

“Cricket should be about fast bowlers, not batsmen,” he said. “Spectators like to see fast bowlers running in, hurting people, and pitches that make batsmen struggle for runs.

“But now we play on good batting tracks all the time, they’ve made laws about bouncers and free hits for a no-ball.”

Discuss. Personally, although I admit Shoaib can be a bit of a dill, I think he’s got a point. Except for the bit about hurting people.

Tags: shoaib-akhtar |

Comments to “The deep thoughts of Shoaib Akhtar” Ollie wrote:
September 7th, 2007 at 8.33 pm

Its all about balance between bat and ball, innit.

Rusty wrote:
September 8th, 2007 at 12.02 am

Personally I often enjoy watching the bowlers more than the batsmen, but it can come down to style and personality. I like watching Tait and Malinga for their mad slings, master spinners like Warne and Murali for the strategy, but medium-paced bowlers can be very ordinary to watch, u nless they are McGrath (sigh).

Akhtar in his prime was special but he’s lost all appeal for me with his nasty tantrums and petulance. I’ll never forget that he slapped Bob Woolmer -jerk!

Angus wrote:
September 8th, 2007 at 12.35 am

It’s about turning up on time, and always playing your hardest. It’s about not faking injury, or taking performance enhancing drugs. It’s about being a role model, and respecting others. It’s about not blaming your teammates, or raising a bat in anger.

It’s not about hitting someone else with a bat.

Ottayan wrote:
September 8th, 2007 at 1.07 am

Real deep thoughts from Shoaib. Never thought he had it in him to string two words together.

Will Davies wrote:
September 8th, 2007 at 7.54 am

He neglects to mention the other things that have conspired against bowlers in general and fast bowlers in particular:
- too much cricket being played, tiring bowlers out
- smaller boundaries
- Shane Warne
- The Australian batting mentality, which has changed the entire sense of what we expect from an over

But it’s therefore up to a nation (Pakistan or whoever) to come up with a new form of intimidation. I think that Marshall/Ambrose/Walsh would scare the shit out of Hayden/Ponting/Gilchrist right now, regardless of minor rules or pitches. So lets see someone do it.

James wrote:
September 8th, 2007 at 12.05 pm

Not to mention helmets and other protective gear, which have taken much of the sheer terror out of a nasty quick.

Has anyone else wondered about the inexplicable obsession Pakistan seems to have with preparing ridiculous featherbed pitches, despite being a class bowling outfit? Every series, the first few Tests are batting practice (the first test in the Indian tour in 2006 was an especial shocker). I gather it’s the same at lower levels. Why on earth wouldn’t they give their trumps a chance to be played?

bichishort wrote:
September 9th, 2007 at 8.46 am

bowlers any day. batters are pufts. blood on da pitch please.

Murph wrote:
September 10th, 2007 at 11.56 am

OK, let’s start with the most obvious point - spectators don’t want to see bowlers hurting batsmen (I think this statement just about sums up Shoaib’s lack of maturity).

While it’s true that people do want the excitement of seeing truly fast bowlers steaming in and giving the batsmen a rough time, I want my Tests to last at least 4 days and my 1-dayers to last between 90-100 overs. Should we go back to wearing no helmets and playing on uncovered wickets? I think not.

In Tests we do need a balance, and I think we have that at the moment. 1-dayers are essentially about runs - and lots of ‘em!!

raxar wrote:
September 16th, 2007 at 12.27 pm

It’s hardly a headline: ‘Fast Bowler Enjoys Hurting Batsmen’.

Also, watching fast (as in REALLY fast) bowlers is fun for a while, but it does get dull after a bit. Especially in the case of Tait or Shoaib when they lose their line, bowl half a dozen wides and then glare at the captain to suggest it’s the way the field is set.

Really fast bowlers are fun, but they are rarely the greatest. I’d rather watch McGrath, Hoggart, Pollock or Vaas any day of the week.

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The deep thoughts of Shoaib Akhtar