Fearsome Akhtar mellowing down
The once aggressive Pakistani bowler is no longer playing his usual intimidating game
Kandy: There are some bowlers who demand respect from the batsmen, and if you ever manhandle their bowling, they are likely to dismiss you very soon after that.
New Zealand opener Brendon McCullum realised this yesterday. He hit Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar's free hit for a six off the third ball of the over. It was a shot played with absolutely no fear for his speed, and Akhtar is someone who loves the tag of the most fearsome bowler.
McCullum had hit with such perfect timing that the ball sailed all the way over mid-wicket for a six, but he paid the price in the very next ball.
However, Akhtar's aggression with the ball did not last long yesterday.
Aggressive behaviour
Is it that he is not the same bowler without his aggressive behaviour?
He bowls his short spells and is rarely involved in staring or performing his usual gimmicks on the field. Even when Ross Taylor, who in full flow, punished him with three sixes, he hardly reacted.
One saw the same with Shantakumaran Sreesanth too. Following strict instructions from the captain to keep his gimmicks under control, he was not the same bowler in the match against Bangladesh. Australian pacer Shaun Tait, who is given a free hand by his skipper Ricky Ponting, is another pacer who demands respect all the time.
He taunts you with remarks, as Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan realised. Very few know that Tait's aggressiveness stems from the fact that his sports hero is boxer Mike Tyson. Dale Steyn is another one, who if not treated with respect, gives out frightening stares, and produces unplayable deliveries with extra pace.
Dilshan and McCullum are masters at punishing bowlers, but in Colombo both of them failed to play with caution to these bowler's good deliveries.
In the match yesterday at Pallekele stadium, McCullum's wicket was Akhtar's 247th, three short of a memorable land mark.
Past troubles
Akhtar's mellowed stance may be because he has had enough troubles with the management, and that he does not want to jump into any more controversies.
Speaking before the New Zealand match, he said: "We had a terrible few months and we now want to heal ourselves by giving a good performance."
