Published: Jul 04, 2015, 07:58 AM (IST)
Edited: Jul 04, 2015, 08:23 AM (IST)
Yasir Shah once again proved to be a menace as he struck four times against Sri Lanka on Day One of the Third Test at Pallekele. Yasir became the fastest Pakistan bowler to reach 50 wickets in Tests in the previous match and has already made it loud and clear that he is the best man to lead the Pakistani spin department for years to come, says Pramod Ananth.
Having already secured 21 wickets in the ongoing series in Sri Lanka, Yasir Shah seems like he is going to be the key bowler in determining Pakistan’s fate in the Pallekele Test and the series. Pakistan have had quality spinners in the recent past; Saeed Ajmal has led the Pakistan spin attack for over five years, and before him it was Shahid Afridi. Now it is Yasir’s turn. READ: Yasir Shah’s four-wicket haul reduces Sri Lanka to 272 for 8
Pakistan have never really lacked a quality spinner. They have always managed churn them out one after the other. Yasir too comes in a at a time when Pakistan desperately needed one. With the International Cricket Council (ICC) becoming stricter and stricter over off-spinners’ bowling actions, especially when they bowl the doosra, bowlers like Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez have come under the scanner, thereby facing bans till they get their bowling actions rectified. READ: Yasir Shah climbs to nine in ICC Test rankings
Ajmal returned with a much more round-arm action against Bangladesh recently, but was not as effective as he used to be. Hafeez will undergo a bowling test in a few days in Chennai and if all goes well, he will be cleared to bowl. Spinners from other nations like Sunil Narine of West Indies and part-timer Kane Williamson from New Zealand too had been barred from bowling, but cleared later on after modifying their actions. But with the modified action, they too have not been as effective. READ: Yasir Shah becomes quickest Pakistan bowler to 50 Test wickets
Ajmal’s ban has turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Yasir, who has performed extremely well since his debut against Australia in 2014. Yasir in his 10 Tests so far has gone wicketless only once, which is stupendous. So far he has been supported well by Zulfiqar Babar, an orthodox slow left-arm spinner, and also occasionally by Hafeez. READ: Yasir Shah’s 7 for 76: Best figures by a visiting bowler in Sri Lanka
Yasir has bowled well against quality oppositions like Australia and New Zealand, and now even against good players of spin like Sri Lanka. With close to 60 wickets in 10 matches, he has proved that he is a consistent performer. If ever a moment arises where Pakistan have to go in with just one spinner, Yasir will win that race by a long margin, as he proved in the ongoing Test. READ: Keep going, Yasir Shah: Cricket needs more like you
At some point, Pakistan will visit countries like South Africa or West Indies. Unlike the subcontinent, there are no rank turners there. The spinners will have to toil hard to get wickets. Yasir has played all his Tests in sub-continental conditions so far and having performed extremely well, it will be interesting to see how he does in unhelpful conditions. READ: Pakistan hope Zulfiqar Babar, Yasir Shah combine to ‘Rangana Herath’ Sri Lanka
Yasir’s real test lies in how he performs in those conditions. Quality spinners from the subcontinent like Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin have often been criticised for performing poorly away from familiar conditions. But on the other hand, the likes of Anil Kumble did well in all conditions. Yasir has to make sure that he too is not labelled a ‘flat track bully’ like many of his counterparts from other countries.
For now, his performance has guaranteed that he is Pakistan’s No. 1 spinner. He should be given a more consistent role in the limited overs games as well. But for the moment there should be no doubt as to who the best spinner in the country is, if not in the world.
(Pramod Ananth is a reporter at CricketCountry. He has represented Karnataka table tennis under-15, and is a hardcore supporter of Liverpool FC. His Twitter handle is @pramz)
