by Saj Sadiq

 

20th February 2010

 

In amongst the smiles, the fans dressed up as bears, the welcome back Afridi banners, the dancing and the loud music in Dubai, you may have noticed that the huge grin of Mohammad Aamer was conspicuous by it's absence.

The wiry 17 year old left arm pace bowler suffered a groin injury during the recently concluded one day series in Australia and failed to recover in time for the two Twenty/20 internationals against England at the eye-catching Dubai Sports City Stadium. Although he was named as one of the reserve players for Dubai, most fans would argue that he deserved a period of rest after a hectic period over the last couple of months where he has been expected to lead the line in all three formats of the game.

Aamer has made a huge impact already in his young international career, having taken more than 50 international wickets and has impressed even the harshest cricketing pundits with his efforts and attitude.

Legendary former Yorkshire and England batsmen turned commentator Geoff Boycott is already a huge fan of the southpaw from Gujjar Khan and speaking to PakPassion.net Boycott was full of praise for Aamer and feels that he has all the necessary skills to become a cricketing great.

"I think he is very talented and I think Pakistan has always had very talented youngsters. He’s exceptionally good. He’s got pace, he’s got spirit and obviously has got a big heart. It seems he’s always up for the challenge" stated Boycott from South Africa where he is currently taking a break from commentating duties.

Whilst Boycott holds Aamer in high regards, he does feel that there is one key area of Aamer's bowling that he needs to work on to make a bigger impact on opponents.

"I think he should work on getting closer to the stumps. A lot of the times he will be pitching the ball such that it is knocking middle stump and hitting the batsmen on the pad. But its not out as it is pitched outside leg stump. He bowls wide on the crease and needs to get a bit closer to the stumps and work on getting off the pitch fairly quickly after he delivers so that he isn’t running onto the pitch".

Boycott feels that Aamer needs to take some time out and obtain some advice from former left arm pace bowling great Wasim Akram and stated
"In his own time he should talk to someone like Wasim Akram who himself was a magnificent left hand fast bowler, and to work it out slowly and surely in his own time. I am not a great believer that when somebody has got some talent, you force it on them. He should explain to him why he needs to get closer to the stumps. For left arm over bowlers, it’s priceless that you have the ability to get lbw".

Aamer's bowling statistics make for interesting reading and of his 21 test wickets only 2 have come as a result of a leg before decision. In one day international cricket Aamer has 23 wickets and is yet to obtain an affirmative leg before decision from an umpire. In the twenty over format of the game, the teenager has 9 wickets and is yet to register a leg before decision.