Pakistan’s test series against Australia just came to an end and if there’s one man who outshone the rest, it’s Mohammad Abbas…
After a draw in the first Test match, the second and final Test became the series decider. Pakistan had a poor start to their innings as they lost five early wickets for just 57 runs. However, a brilliant partnership between Sarfaraz and Fakhar helped the team recover and post 282 on the board. From then on, Pakistan continued their ascension. Australia had an even poorer time with the bat as an unplayable bowling spell from Mohammad Abbas sent their batsmen back to the pavilion one-by-one.
From 5/57 on day 1, Pakistan go into the 4th innings with a lead of 537 with 2+ days remaining to get Australia out. That is some comeback.
— Rehan Ulhaq (@Rehan_ulhaq) October 18, 2018
By the time Australia got a chance to bat in the second innings, Pakistan already had a lead of 537. And once again in the same match, a fifer from Abbas wrecked the Australian batting line-up. As the Pakistani team rejoiced over their biggest Test win (by runs), the pacer stole the limelight – and rightly so.
Mohammad Abbas has played only 10 Test matches so far and he’s already created a name for himself. Abbas has put up some of the best match figures by a Pakistani fast bowler in Tests over the last ten years, appearing three times in the Top 5. The 28-year-old has also become the first Pakistani pacer since Mohammad Asif in 2006 to take 10 wickets in a Test match. As a result, people cannot help but compare the two. Have Pakistan’s selectors finally found a suitable replacement for Asif?
With five in each innings at Abu Dhabi, Mohammad Abbas becomes the first Pakistan pacer to take a Test ten-wicket haul since Mohammad Asif in 2006 https://t.co/XzgrGNREWl pic.twitter.com/wfqPyWW6IU
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) October 19, 2018
The guy seems to be on a roll. Just a few months ago, he took 8 for 64 at Lord’s and has now carried his form over to the UAE’s pitches – the pitches that didn’t seem to work for anybody else but him. The Aussies had prepared themselves to face a spin attack in the UAE, but what destroyed them instead was pace in the form of Abbas. The right-armer has now taken a total of 59 wickets in just 10 tests, averaging just 15.64. Only three other bowlers from the world, who’ve taken more than 50 wickets, average lower than that. All three of whom finished their careers long ago. His average of 15.64 is also the best bowling average among Asian pacers.
Mohammad Abbas is now being praised by the cricket fraternity all over the globe. Dale Steyn, the South African seamer, called him the future number one Test bowler. Paul Collingwood and Michael Vaughan also declared him unplayable. Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif couldn’t stop himself from recognizing Abbas’ talent either as he praised his abilities on Twitter.
Mohammad Abbas is the form bowler in world cricket, and he's doing it with accuracy and precision. 80% of his deliveries today have been on a good length, 30% would have hit the stumps – and sent down at just 129kph. When you're that accurate, pace is almost irrelevant. #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/5WuXnttqnK
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 19, 2018
What is surprising, however, is that Abbas doesn’t seem to have much pace – and yet, he gives hardly anything to the batsmen. He’s only taken one Test wicket bowling over 135kph, and is largely proving his skill with the ball while staying in the medium pace range. A look at the deliveries he bowled during the test against Australia leaves one marvelling at his accuracy and precision. Interestingly, Abbas has also not gone wicket-less in a Test innings thus far. Keeping all that in mind, is it wrong to say he’s the number one Test bowler in the making? I don’t think so.