The World Test Championship is the premier competition in Test cricket akin to the World Cup in ODI and T20 cricket. 

The idea of WTC was introduced in 2019 when the Test-playing nations played against each other for over two years. At the end of the two-year cycle, teams that occupy the top two spots in the points table will qualify to play the Final.

New Zealand won the inaugural edition of the WTC in June 2021 beating India by eight wickets at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. It was Australia who won the title in June 2023, once again beating India by 209 runs, at the Oval in London.

India currently leads the points table in the current edition of the WTC and are well-placed to qualify for the Final to be played in June 2025 in England.

Batters win you sessions, but bowlers win you matches in Test cricket. For any team to win a Test match, it is imperative that they pick up 20 wickets of the opponents within the stipulated five days.

It is sweat and toil for the bowlers as they do the dirty job to help their team get the better of their opposition. Bowling is always a thankless job, especially in the longer format of the game.

Here, we look at the players with the most wickets in WTC history after it was introduced in 2019. 

Most wickets in WTC history: List of players with most wickets in the World Test Championship

Player	Span	Matches	Wickets	Average	Strike Rate	Best Bowling figures
Nathan Lyon	2019-2024	43	187	26.70	58.05	8/64
Pat Cummins	2019-2024	42	175	22.81	46.93	6/91
Ravichandran Ashwin	2019-2024	35	174	20.43	44.79	7/71
Mitchell Starc	2019-2024	38	147	27.08	46.83	6/66
Stuart Broad	2019-2024	33	134	24.09	47.55	6/31
Kagiso Rabada	2019-2024	27	123	22.52	40.30	6/50
James Anderson	2019-2024	36	116	23.81	59.06	6/40
Tim Southee	2019-2024	30	116	28.45	59.34	5/32
Jasprit Bumrah	2019-2024	26	110	20.16	43.32	6/27
Josh Hazlewood	2019-2024	26	109	21.33	45.88	5/8

Nathan Lyon | 187 wickets

Nathan Lyon is the leading wicket-taker in the history of the World Test Championship with 187 wickets from 43 matches. He averages 26.70 with the ball along with a strike rate of 58.05 balls per wicket. He also has 10 five-wicket hauls to his name.

The off-spinner played a stellar role in Australia’s victorious campaign in the WTC 2021-2023 cycle with a massive haul of 88 wickets from just 20 matches. He also picked up five wickets against India in the Final at The Oval, which the Aussies won by 209 runs in June 2023. 

With a tally of 43 wickets from nine games, he is fourth in the current edition of the WTC and holds the key for Australia in the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy in November 2024.

Pat Cummins | 175 wickets

Australian skipper Pat Cummins is next on the list with a tally of 175 wickets from 42 matches. The pacer has eight five-wicket hauls with an average of 22.81 runs per wicket and strikes at an excellent frequency of 46.93 balls.

Cummins has led the Australian attack from the front providing timely breakthroughs for the team. He finished second in the list of top wicket-takers in the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021 with an impressive tally of 70 wickets from just 14 matches.

Cummins once again finished in the top five list in the subsequent edition of WTC to take Australia to the title in 2023. He is currently second in the bowling charts in the ongoing WTC cycle with 48 wickets from 12 matches.

Ravichandran Ashwin | 174 wickets

Following closely at third spot is India’s Ravichandran Ashwin with 174 wickets, just one short of Cummins, from 35 matches, including 10 five-wicket hauls. The off-spinner has an impressive average of 20.43 and a strike rate of 44.79, both best among his peers in the top-five wicket-takers list in the WTC.

Ashwin topped the bowling charts in the WTC 2019-2021 cycle with 71 wickets from 14 matches. He finished third in the list of top wicket-takers in the next edition in 2023. Ashwin’s excellent performances lifted India to consecutive Finals in the first two editions, the only team to do so.

In the current WTC cycle too, Ashwin is the top Indian in the list of wicket-takers with 42 wickets from eight matches.

Mitchell Starc | 147 wickets

Mitchell Starc completes the Aussie domination in the list of bowlers with the most wickets in the history of WTC. Starc is placed fourth with 147 wickets from 38 matches.

The left-arm pacer has an average of 27.08 and a strike rate of 46.83 with three five-wicket hauls to his name. He is currently third in the list of wicket-takers in the WTC 2023-2025 cycle with 48 wickets from 11 matches.

Photo credit: Imago

For a high-paced format like T20 cricket, a bowler’s nightmare is registering the most expensive over.

While it differs from pitch to pitch, a T20 bowler should understand the mindset of the opposition batsmen before bowling his over. Otherwise, they would be at the mercy of specialist batsmen like Chris Gayle, who has the record for the fastest century in T20 cricket.

Bangalore’s Harshal Patel, who earlier made the news as the first player to take a fifer against current holders Mumbai, was hammered for 37 overs in his final over against Chennai.

After taking three wickets for just 14 runs from his three overs, skipper Virat Kohli handed the ball for Harshal to bowl the final over of the first innings. Needless to say, it was a costly mistake.

Ravindra Jadeja had no mercy on Harshal Patel as he smashed 6,6,6nb,6,2,6,4 in the 20th over. Totalling 37 runs, it was the most expensive over in T20.

With this, Harshal Patel equalled Prasanth Parameswaran’s 2011 record in the Indian T20 League who leaked 37 runs in the third over of Kerala’s game against Bangalore.

Most expensive over in Indian T20 League

Bowler	Opponent	Runs conceded	Year
Harshal Patel	Chennai	37	2021
Prasanth Parameswaran	Bangalore	37	2011
Daniel Sams	Kolkata	35	2022
Parvinder Awana	Chennai	33	2014
Ravi Bopara	Punjab	33	2010

Four bowlers, meanwhile, have conceded a record 36 runs in an over in T20 internationals. Two of them saw the batsmen smashing six successive sixes. 

India’s Yuvraj Singh did it first in 2007 against England, blazing six sixes off Stuart Broad’s final and the innings penultimate over during the ICC T20 World Cup in 2007. Yuvraj brought up his fifty with the last six of the over in just 12 balls and was ultimately dismissed in the last over for a 14-ball 58. The Indian cricket team posted 218/4 and beat England by 18 runs. Broad ended with 0/60 in his four overs.

Fourteen years later in 2021, Kieron Pollard smashed six sixes off Akila Dananjaya, as West Indies chased Sri Lanka’s 131/9 in just 13.1 overs and with four wickets in hand. Pollard set the tone early, blazing in the sixth over and taming Dananjaya who had picked an impressive 3/17 in two overs until then, including a hat-trick. The Sri Lankan ended with figures of 3/62 in his four overs in the end.

West Indies' Nicholas Pooran broke multiple records during a T20 World Cup 2024, Group C match against Afghanistan. In the fourth over against Azmatullah Omarzai, Pooran struck three sixes and three boundaries. A no-ball and 4 leg byes made matters worse for the Afghan all-rounder as power-hitter Pooran scored 36 runs in an over to enter an elite list of batters. The 28-year-old's fiery knock ended with 98 runs off 53 balls and helped the Windies to a win.

Shivam Dube has the unwanted record of conceding the most runs in an over by an Indian bowler when he gave away 34 runs to the New Zealand pair of Tim Seifert and Ross Taylor at Mount Maunganui in February 2020. Dube’s first ball was to Seifert and the over went 6641 and then nb466 to Taylor. It was Shivam Dube’s only over on the day. India had posted 163/3 but it proved to be enough as they won by seven runs, Dube’s generosity notwithstanding.

Most expensive over in T20I

Bowler	Opponent	Runs conceded	Year
Stuart Broad	India	36	2007
Akila Dananjaya	West Indies	36	2021
Azmatullah Omarzai	West Indies	36	2024
Karim Janat	India	36	2024
Shivam Dube	New Zealand	34	2020
Nasum Ahmed	Zimbabwe	34	2022

Featured photo: Twitter / Royal Challengers Bangalore

India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has the best bowling strike rate in Tests amongst bowlers with minimum 450 wickets.

The veteran off-spinner currently has a strike rate of 51.12 in Test cricket, which is better than the top five leading wicket-takers in cricket’s longest format. Ashwin holds a better strike rate in Tests than the likes of Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, James Anderson, Anil Kumble and Stuart Broad.

Among the 450-wicket mark, only former Australian fast-medium pacer Glenn McGrath comes close to Ravichandran Ashwin for the best bowling strike rate in Tests. McGrath finished his legendary Test career with a strike rate of 51.95. Get the list of best bowling strike rate in Tests with minimum 450 wickets.

Best bowling strike rate in Tests (Min. 450 wickets)

Player	Span	Matches	Innings	Wickets	Strike Rate
Ravichandran Ashwin (India)	2011-2023	93	176	486	51.12
Glenn McGrath (Australia)	1993-2007	124	243	563	51.95
Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)	1992-2010	133	230	800	55.04
Stuart Broad (England)	2007-2023	165	305	598	55.68
James Anderson (England)	2003-2023	181	337	688	56.32

Ravichandran Ashwin | 51.12

Since making his Test debut against West Indies in 2011, Ravichandran Ashwin has become India’s biggest match-winner with the ball in the red-ball format. The Indian off-spinner has picked up 486 Test wickets in 93 matches at an average of 23.61 and a strike rate of 51.12, which is the best among bowlers with at least 450 Test wickets. He has scalped 34 five-wicket hauls in cricket’s longest format so far.

Glenn McGrath | 51.95

Considered to be one of the greatest bowlers of all-time, former Australian cricketer Glenn McGrath tormented batters from the mid-1990s to the late 2000s. Known for his immaculate line and length, McGrath bagged 563 Test wickets in 124 matches at an average of 21.64 and an impressive strike rate of 51.95. He is currently the sixth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket.

Muttiah Muralitharan | 55.04

Legendary Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan holds the world record for the most wickets in international cricket. Between 1992 and 2011, the right-arm off-spinner scalped 1347 wickets in 495 matches at an average of 22.86. In Test cricket, Muralitharan is the only bowler to pick 800 Test wickets in 133 matches at a strike rate of 55.04. He bagged 67 five-wicket hauls, which is the most by any bowler in Tests.

Photo credit: Alamy

Former Sri Lanka spinner Muthiah Muralidaran has claimed the most wickets in international cricket.

Having made his international debut against Australia in a Test match in 1992, Muralidaran ended his career as the all-time highest wicket-taker in international cricket with 1347 scalps in 495 matches at an average of 22.86. He recorded 77 five-wicket hauls and 22 10-wicket hauls in his international career.

Considered to be one of the greatest bowlers to have played the sport, Muralidaran bagged 800 Test wickets in 133 matches at an average of 22.72 - the most by any bowler in the longest format of the game.

Muralidaran also holds the record for picking the most wickets in the ODI format, bagging 534 wickets in 350 matches at an impressive average of 23.08 and an economy of 3.93. 

The legendary off-spinner also played 12 T20Is, claiming 13 wickets at an economy of 6.31.

Muralitharan made his last international appearance in the 2011 World Cup final against India in Mumbai, which Sri Lanka lost by six wickets.

Australian legend Shane Warne features second on the list for most wickets in international cricket. During his international career, the leg-spinner picked 1001 wickets in 339 matches at an average of 25.51 including 38 five-wicket hauls and 10 10-wicket hauls.

Between 1992 and 2007, Warne bagged 708 Test wickets in 145 matches and 293 ODI wickets in 194 matches. 

England pacer James Anderson is third on the list for most wickets in international cricket. Anderson has bagged 975 wickets in 394 matches at an average of 27.12 with 34 five-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket hauls.

Former India spinner Anil Kumble and ex-Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath complete the top five list for most wickets in international cricket.

While Kumble picked 956 wickets in 403 matches, McGrath picked up 949 wickets in 376 matches. Currently, Anderson has the most wickets in international cricket among active players.

Most wickets in international cricket

Player	Span	Matches	Wickets	Average	Economy	5w	10w
Muthiah Muralidaran	1992-2011	495	1347	22.86	2.92	77	22
Shane Warne	1992-2007	339	1001	25.51	2.98	38	10
James Anderson	2002-2023	394	975	27.12	3.25	34	3
Anil Kumble	1990-2008	403	956	30.09	3.11	37	8
Glenn McGrath	1993-2007	376	949	21.76	2.93	36	3
Wasim Akram	1984-2003	460	916	23.57	3.17	31	5
Stuart Broad	2006-2022	342	841	27.76	3.45	21	3
Shaun Pollock	1995-2008	423	829	23.73	2.92	21	1
Waqar Younis	1989-2003	349	789	23.70	3.88	35	5
Chaminda Vaas	1994-2009	439	761	28.44	3.30	16	2

Featured photo: SANKA VIDANAGAMA / AFP

England cricketer James Anderson owns the record for the most wickets in international cricket among pacers.

Since making his international debut against arch-rivals Australia in a One-Day International (ODI) match at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 2002, James Anderson has bagged 954 wickets in 388 matches at an average of 27.15. He has registered 34 five-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket hauls in his international cricket career so far.

Considered to be one of the greatest swing bowlers in cricket’s history, Anderson is currently the leading active wicket-taker in Test cricket. The right-arm fast bowler has claimed 672 Test wickets in 176 matches at an average of 26.16 and an economy of 2.79. He has recorded 32 five-wicket hauls and three five-wicket hauls since donning the England jersey for the first time in the longest format against Zimbabwe at Lord’s in 2003.

The legendary pacer has also played 19 T20Is, scalping 18 wickets at an average of 23.44 and an economy of 7.85.

Anderson has surpassed the previous record held by Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath. 

Between 1993 and 2007, Glenn McGrath picked 949 international wickets in 376 matches at an average of 21.76 and an economy of 2.93.

McGrath made his international debut against trans-Tasman rival New Zealand in a Test match in Perth in 1993. He ended his legendary Test career as the fifth-highest wicket-taker with 563 scalps in 124 matches at an average of 21.64. McGrath registered 29 five-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket hauls in his Test career.

The Australian speedster also featured in 250 ODIs, scalping 381 wickets at an average of 22.02 and an economy of 3.88. He also bagged five T20I wickets in two matches he played for the Men in Yellow.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram is third on the list for the most wickets in international cricket among pacers. 

Having made his international debut against New Zealand at Iqbal Stadium in 1984, Wasim claimed 916 wickets in 460 matches at an average of 23.57 including 31 five-wicket hauls and five 10-wicket hauls.

Akram finished as the second highest wicket-taker in the ODI format, having picked 502 wickets in 302 matches at an average of 23.53 and an economy of just 3.89. He recorded 17 four-wicket hauls and six-wicket hauls. In the longest format, the Pakistan fast bowler claimed 414 wickets in 104 matches at an average of 23.62. 

South Africa’s Shaun Pollock and Stuart Broad of England complete the top five list.

While Pollock has claimed 829 international wickets in 423 matches, Broad has already bagged 809 wickets in 336 matches.

Most wickets in international cricket among pacers

Player	Span	Matches	Wickets	Average	Economy	5w	10w
James Anderson	2002-2022*	388	954	27.15	3.27	34	3
Glenn McGrath	1993-2007	376	949	21.76	2.93	36	3
Wasim Akram	1984-2003	460	916	23.57	3.17	31	5
Shaun Pollock	1995-2008	423	829	23.73	2.92	21	1
Stuart Broad	2006-2022*	336	809	27.90	3.44	20	3

 

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Featured photo: Alamy

England pacer Stuart Broad holds the record of bowling the most expensive over in Test cricket.

Broad conceded 35 runs off an over during England’s rescheduled fifth Test against India at the Edgbaston in Birmingham, in 2022.

Batting at number 10, India’s stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah smashed 29 runs off Broad’s over, courtesy of four fours and two sixes. During that expensive over, Broad also conceded five wides, a no-ball and a single on the last ball as he gave away the most runs off an over in Test cricket.

Broad started the over by conceding a four as tailender Bumrah top-edged a short-pitched delivery towards fine leg. On the second delivery, the England fast bowler bowled a bouncer but it was too high as wicket-keeper Sam Billings failed to collect the ball and ended up conceding five wides.

Under pressure Broad then conceded a six off a no-ball as Bumrah managed to top-edge it over the keeper as it sailed over the boundary.

Things went from bad to worse as Bumrah hammered Broad for three consecutive fours in the next three balls. After Bumrah smashed a juicy full toss towards mid-on for a boundary and later inside-edged a four to fine leg, he followed it up by clobbering a length across the fence.

Bumrah later smashed a six over long-leg and then took a quick single as Broad ended up bowling the most expensive over in Test cricket.

Interestingly, Broad also holds the record of bowling the joint-most expensive over in T20I cricket. 

India’s Yuvraj Singh had smashed six sixes off an over during an ICC T20 World Cup encounter in Durban in 2007. 

Broad shares the record of bowling the most expensive over in T20I along with Sri Lanka’s Akila Dhananjaya, who was also hammered for six sixes off an over by West Indies�?Kieron Pollard in 2021.

Meanwhile, Bumrah also broke the record of West Indies legend Brian Lara for scoring the most runs off an over in Test cricket. Lara had smashed South Africa’s Robin Peterson for 28 runs in 2003, which was also the most expensive over in Test cricket before Bumrah’s heroics.

Previously, Australia’s George Bailey and Keshav Maharaj have also hit 28 runs off an over in Tests.

While Bailey hammered England fast bowler James Anderson for 28 runs, Maharaj smashed the same tally off England’s Joe Root.

Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh also features in the list of most expensive overs in Test cricket.

Pakistan swashbuckling batter Shahid Afridi smashed 27 runs off Harbhajan’s over during a Test match in Lahore in 2006.

Harbhajan conceded 27 off an over as Afridi clobbered four consecutive sixes and followed it up with a double and a single.

Most expensive over in Test cricket

Bowler	Batter	Runs conceded	Over	Venue	Year
Stuart Broad (England)	Jasprit Bumrah (India)	35	4w4nb644461	Birmingham	2022
Robin Peterson (South Africa)	Brian Lara (West Indies)	28	466444	Johannesburg	2003
James Anderson (England)	George Bailey (Australia)	28	462466	Perth	2013
Joe Root (England)	Keshav Maharaj (South Africa)	28	44466b4	Port Elizabeth	2020
Harbhajan Singh (India)	Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)	27	666621	Lahore	2006
Younis Khan (Pakistan)	Craig McMillan (New Zealand)	26	444464	Hamilton	2001
Danish Kaneria (Pakistan)	Brian Lara (West Indies)	26	406664	Multan	2006
Paul Harris (South Africa)	Mitchell Johnson (Australia)	26	446066	Johannesburg	2009
Suranga Lakmal (Sri Lanka)	Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)	26	466046	Christchurch	2014
Malinda Pushpakumara (Sri Lanka)	Hardik Pandya (India)	26	446660	Pallekele	2017

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Featured photo: Lindsey Parnaby / AFP

 

Cameron Bancroft had recently suggested that the Australian bowlers were aware of how the ball was to be worked on by sandpaper during the 2018 Cape Town Test against South Africa. 

Now, England pacer Stuart Broad has said that his fellow bowlers such as James Anderson are very particular about the ball; he added that everyone in the England side has to buy into plans to look after the ball, suggesting that there is no way anyone cannot know what substance is to be applied or not applied.       

"I've obviously never bowled within the Australian bowling attack but I can talk about how, in an England Test team, if I miss the seam by four millimetres, Jimmy Anderson is on me," Broad said. "He'll be saying 'why has this ball got a mark on it here? It's because you've missed the seam! Start hitting the seam, will you?'�?/span>

Anderson is an acknowledged exponent of reverse swing, and it is understandable why he gets worked up if the ball is not maintained according to team plans. 

Broad went on to say that apart from hitting the seam, there were many other things his side had to keep in mind while trying to make the ball deteriorate in a way that would generate reverse swing.

"Reverse swing with the red ball can be affected by so many different things. If you chase it to the boundary and throw it into the grass it can smooth the ball over and stop it reversing,�?Broad said. 

That is why deep fielders will often throw the ball onto the practice pitches on its way back to the keeper, so that it can roughen up quicker on the bald, abrasive surface of those wickets instead of bouncing it on the green outfield.

“If you touch the ball with wet hands it will stop it reversing,�?Broad explained further, “If you shine it in a way that smooths over the rough side it will stop it reversing.”�?/span>

Teams usually have designated ball shiners to work on one side of the ball, preferably those with palms that don’t sweat too much. England skipper Joe Root prefers to stretch his shirt sleeve over his palms when he rubs the ball to try and keep it dry and gain more shine.

"So as an England team, we are aware if we're trying to get the ball reversing every player has to buy into that or it will stop it,�?Broad concluded.

Featured photo: AFP / Mike Hewitt

England captain Joe Root has confirmed that the team has decided to rest veteran pacer James Anderson for the second Test match against India, which begins on February 13 at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Apart from Anderson, Dom Bess has also been rested while Jofra Archer will have to sit out due to an injury. Another departure from the English camp is of Jos Buttler, who was only available for the first Test and will return for the limited-over series. In their places, England have included the likes of Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes, Moeen Ali, Ben Foakes and Olly Stone. 

"We have made four changes. I can name the 12 at the moment. Ben Foakes, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad and Olly Stone have come into the squad. It will depend on which four we play," confirmed England skipper Joe Root while speaking to the media on Friday.

Root has also explained how difficult was it for the team to leave out Bess. "He has taken that on board and I am sure he will be disappointed, but that is what you expect from players who really care," said Root.

It was widely expected that Jonny Bairstow will take the wicket-keeping responsibility in absence of Buttler, but Root has confirmed that Ben Foakes will be the designated wicket-keeper for England.

"Bairstow will be available as a pure batsman...We are hoping that Archer can rest and be fit for the third Test (in Ahmedabad)," said Root.

England Squad for 2nd Test: Joe Root, Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Daniel Lawrence, Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Moeen Ali, Jack Leach, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes, Ben Foakes and Olly Stone.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @englandcricket

Veteran England fast bowler James Anderson may be rested for the second Test against India, starting on February 13 in Chennai.

The 38-year-old, who had produced a match-winning spell on Day 5 of the first Test match at the same venue, is likely to be replaced by another modern-day great Stuart Broad as England look to continue their rotation policy, hinted coach Chris Silverwood.

"I am not reluctant to change a winning team if it is the best thing to do for the players and the team and our longevity over a long period. Yes, he (Anderson) is a class act, but you'll have to wait and see," Silverwood told the media on Wednesday. 

"Has it crossed my mind [to play Broad and Anderson together]? Yes, they are both class acts, but things are working at the moment and we have to look after our players... We have got many bowlers here that we could play at any given point. I feel very lucky that I have an abundance of talent," said Silverwood while hinting Anderson could be rested. 

The English coach further defended Dom Bess, who claimed four wickets in the first innings but was expensive in the second.

"I'm not worried. I had a chat with him afterwards and he is still in good spirits. He can have a bad day every now and again. It is not through lack of effort. He's shown he can get us wickets so I am sure he'll be fine," he said.

Silverwood also spoke on all-rounder Moeen Ali's chances of playing the second Test. 

"Everything is on the table. If we feel we need to do it we have the options available to rotate. [Ali has] worked as hard as he possibly can do. He's not played a game, we accept that, but those are the times that we're in at the moment. Should he play I'd have every confidence in him," said Silverwood. 

Joe Root-led England registered their sixth successive Test win in Asia as the Three Lions defeated India by 227 runs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium to take 1-0 lead in the four-match Test series.

Feature image courtesy: Twitter/ICC

When Pakistan bowler Wasim Akram made his international debut in 1985 at the age of 17, cricket was a bowler’s game and youngsters had enough idols who inspired them to pursue fast bowling.

The speeding circuit was ruled by the menacing likes of Malcolm Marshall, Richard Hadlee, Dennis Lillee, Joel Garner and Pakistan's very own Imran Khan, and the poster boys were all using brute strength to win bouncer wars and intimidate batsmen.

However, an intellectual Wasim Akram - who idolized Zaheer Abbas, Asif Iqbal and Mushtaq Mohammad - always saw fast bowling in terms of dimensions and new angle lines rather than repetitive hitting of the deck at shorter lengths.

“Fast bowling is not all about fitness and power; it is not about big, dumb men with biceps and triceps,�?Wasim Akram would say in an interview with Cricket Monthly.

“You need to be able to analyze the weaknesses of the batsman, read the conditions, use the conditions,�?added the Pakistan bowler.

The battle of man versus nature has been older than time, but little did a young Wasim Akram know that he would end up bending the very laws of nature to find his place in cricketing history.

While many would label Wasim Akram as an inborn talent, all the Lahore lad had from the beginning was a distinct imagination. And it was more of a curse than a gift because Akram would injure every pivotal part of his body to attain the perfection that his fascination projected.

The byproduct was the most complete fast bowler cricket ever produced.  At his peak, Akram could hit the same spot four times with the ball acting in four different ways. He wasn’t the fastest bowler in the world but his deliveries would come in, go out �?both over and round the wicket �?see an early swing and vice versa, and all this while having complete control on pace and length.

“As a fast bowler, you had to learn the variety. If the new ball didn't work, you had to get the slower balls going, you had to mix them up; with the old ball you had to learn how to reverse,�?Akram says.

The Sultan of Swing

It was the last skill �?the reverse swing �?that would attain Wasim Akram a legendary status.

While the enhancement of protective gears in cricket would eventually see batsmen countering the petrifying bouncers from shorter lengths, there was no saving one from Akram’s late swinging fuller deliveries that went on to hit the pads or the stumps.

If spin bowling has a mystery attached to it, Akram’s swing bowling had wizardry. The Pakistan bowler could spell magic into the ball just before it was released from his firm wrist, leaving batsmen flummoxed and flabbergasted.

“People were just baffled; they didn't understand what was happening. And we came from the subcontinent,�?Akram proudly narrated.

“In England, they just couldn't play me and Waqar; they were getting beaten every second ball; they didn't know what the hell was happening,�?he added.

Balls bowled once in a generation

While Google would throw up a dozen of results if searched “Wasim Akram best wickets�? two of his deliveries have stood the test of time as they leave viewers in awe even today.

The more popular one was his perfect torture of Rahul Dravid in the 1999 Test in Chennai. Though Akram had got Dravid out with an LBW in his previous delivery, the umpire couldn’t see it. Hence, the Pakistan bowler had to produce something more definitive and he did exactly that.

His next delivery saw the ball pitching in line of the middle stump and taking Dravid’s off stump. Not only did the ball leave a tactically astute batsman like Dravid shocked, but the fact that it was executed on a sub-continental dusty pitch spoke volumes about Akram’s class.

While Dravid’s dismissal is often hailed as a “ball of the century�?contender, there’s another otherworldly spell by Akram that is almost forgotten for it was so good. The batsman facing Akram was England’s Robert Croft and while he was given a “not out�?by the umpire after an LBW appeal, it was the replay that had shocked the world.

Replayed on television with the sole purpose of ridiculing Akram’s appeal following his delivery, viewers had ended up seeing magic. Akram’s ball had first gone down the batsman’s leg stump before suddenly straightening down the line and cutting past the batsman’s bat to hit his pads right in front of the middle stump.

Yes! The ball had swung in two different directions in one go. Before Akram did it, no mortal would have thought it to be possible.

Under the wings of Imran Khan

Fiery Pakistan bowlers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were undoubtedly the best cricketers in world cricket in the early 1990s. The flair and aggression that they brought to the pitch made Pakistan world beaters in the World Cup in 1992.

28 years ago today @TheRealPCB won the 1992 @cricketworldcup. My friend @wasimakramlive was the man of the match. pic.twitter.com/yw5LDSPNAy

�?Frank Khalid (@FrankKhalidUK) March 25, 2020

However, while Younis was a freak of nature, who could break any batting line-up by raw and uncontrollable pace, Akram was like a controlled sword that could cut through the most disciplined of defences with impeccability. And Akram credits his skipper Imran Khan for the same.

Though Akram was a find of Javed Miandad during a random net session, it was Pakistan’s World Cup-winning skipper who realized the untamed potential in a teenager and imparted discipline in him.

A popular story does the rounds in cricketing folklore that during Pakistan’s tour of England in 1987, Imran Khan was driving Akram around in his car while indoctrinating the protégé. And among most of his advice was, “You have to work like a dog, Wasim.�?/span>

“Imran Khan taught me how to use the conditions, the virtue of hard work and patience, and most of all the mental side of fast bowling,�?Wasim Akram recalled, “He taught me never to lose hope and never to be content. To be successful, you had to have hunger.�?/span>

Though Akram would often approach Malcolm Marshall and Richard Hadlee for advice on his fast bowling, while Franklyn Stephenson was his sole inspiration for learning the slow balls, Imran Khan was the mentor who forged Wasim Akram into a world-class bowler.

Taking wickets for fun

A five-wicket haul is considered an extraordinary feat even today when a bowler is bombed with stats about strengths and weaknesses of the batsman he is running up to. Akram was taking five-fers for fun in the 1980s, with only his talent to rely on.

Akram had started with a bang with successive five-fers in either innings of the 1985 Test against New Zealand and followed it up with five-wicket hauls against West Indies (1986) and India (1987).

Akram notched his first-ever international hat-trick in 1989 against West Indies when he had consecutively dismissed Jeff Dujon, Malcolm Marshall and Sir Curtly Ambrose to help Pakistan win a losing battle.

The second hat-trick would follow six months later at the 1990 Austral-Asia Cup when Akram sunk the Australian ship with a hat-trick in the 47th over. His victims this time were Merv Hughes, Carl Rackemann and Terry Alderman as Pakistan cruised to a 38-run victory.

Wasim Akram became the 4th man to take a hat-trick in ODIs. This was v WI at Sharjah in 1989

Hat-trick victims: Jeff Dujon, Malcolm Marshall & Curtly Ambrose@wasimakramlive pic.twitter.com/ALuoj8GNNW

�?Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) June 22, 2020

The 1992-93 Wills Trophy was another occasion. Playing against Sri Lanka, the Pakistan bowler would go on to take successive four-wicket hauls in the group stage as well as the final. Viewers were in awe as Akram dismissed the likes of Roshan Mahanama and Arjuna Ranatunga, among others, for fun to win the “Man of the Series�?award.

Sri Lanka fans would remember the unplayable Wasim Akram from the 1999 Asian Test Championships as well, where the Pakistan bowler had taken two hat-tricks against Sri Lanka in consecutive Test matches.

After dismissing Romesh Kaluwitharana, Niroshan Bandaratilleke and Pramodya Wickramasinghe in the Test at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, Akram had gone past Avishka Gunaratne, Chaminda Vaas and Mahela Jayawardene at Dhaka's Bangabandhu National Stadium in the following Test match.

#OnThisDay in 1999, Wasim Akram took a hat-trick against Sri Lanka in the final of the Asian Test Championship in Dhaka. Pakistan went on to win by an innings and 175 runs.

Great bowling from the legend, together with superb commentary from Tony Greig #Cricket pic.twitter.com/7UdJkIpn8S

�?Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) March 14, 2020

Akram is the only bowler to take four hat-tricks in international cricket (two each in Tests and One Day Internationals), and the third of only four bowlers to take two Test cricket hat-tricks. The others were Hugh Trumble, Jimmy Matthews and Stuart Broad.

A messy retirement

Wasim Akram retired with over 400 wickets to his name in both the Test (414 wickets) and ODI (502) formats. He was the first-ever cricketer to achieve that feat and the only Pakistan bowler ever to do so. However, these figures could clean Akram’s tainted legacy only so much, after he led a career that was filled with controversies.

Apart from being in a continuous tussle with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which saw Akram being dropped from the team numerous times in the latter half of his career, he was accused of match-fixing as well.

However, despite his credibility and reputation getting compromised, cricket fans would agree that Wasim Akram redefined fast bowling in a never-before-seen manner that left an entire generation of cricketers wanting for more.

Written by: Subhayan Dutta