Getting left behind

UMPIRE's POST

The three-Test series that India played with Pakistan has reversed a trend in international cricket. Of late, there had been a revival of fast bowling. However, barring Shoaib's four wickets in the second innings at Kotla and Ishant's five-for in Bangalore, the series will not encourage youngsters to take to fast bowling.

Ishant's haul had one middle order batsman, one bowling all-rounder and three tail-enders. What made it still noteworthy was that it came on a lifeless pitch. Shoaib's show looked tragic because of the complete absence of support at the other end "" he took all four wickets to fall.

Before this series, Zaheer Khan in England gave perhaps the best exhibition of left-arm swing bowling since Wasim Akram. Darel Steyn demolished New Zealand to overshadow Mkhaya Ntini. Around the same time, Brett Lee brought his economy rate against Sri Lanka down to the levels of McGrath, while still shoring up his wickets tally. He has company in Mitchel Johnson, an exciting prospect.

The India-Pakistan series had an inauspicious start, with Asif, R P Singh and Sreesanth laid low with injuries. Still there was Shoaib, keen to silence his many critics. There was Sami, who had started his career with a man-of-the-match performance. And there were Zaheer & Co.

By the time the series ended, the picture changed drastically. It is no surprise to see VVS finishing atop the batting average table. He has, of late, been the most consistent of Indian batsmen. However, he also tops the bowling averages, thanks to his lone wicket conceding two runs in the only over he bowled.

Freakish, you would say. And rightly so. But it is not freakish that the next two in the table are Yuvraj and Ganguly. The fast bowler with the best average is Ishant, who played only one match and went wicketless in the second innings.

Zaheer took only five wickets in two matches conceding 38.20 runs for each wicket. Munaf played as many matches for three wickets at 71.66. Irfan took one wicket in one match at a grand average of 110.

Mirroring India's show, the best bowling average for Pakistan is claimed by Arafat, who, just like Ishant, played only one match. The star, Shoaib, returned an average of 33.11 for his nine wickets in three matches. His strike rate is over 65, which is more like a spinner's. Tanvir, who attempted to bowl spin at the Eden, took five wickets in two matches at 63.2.

The outcome of this data analysis is concern. At a time when the two premier sides in world cricket, South Africa and Australia, are discovering and re-discovering fast bowling talent, are India and Pakistan being left behind?