"Had it not been for you Freddie, my career would have been long gone" : Shoaib Akhtar

[BoomBoomCricket]

Mainly talking about England's tour of Pakistan in 2005 having reclaimed the Ashes that home summer:

"People used to get under my skin very badly at times. I faced many problems with the management, many problems with the batsmen."

"Had it not been for you Freddie my career would have been long gone before I even knew"

"Had it not been for that England series where you treated me (I'm not going to say badly) but motivated me enough to get back into the side"

"I thought your behaviour was a bit rude towards me"

"I thought you could not fully understand me because on the tour of Australia (ICC World XI tour of Australia the previous month) we were having a great time. I thought you couldn't understand me because we never spent much time together"

"Plus you said a line - you look like Tarzan, but bowl like Jane. This Jane can bowl fast, let me show this guy to you"

"I remember talking to Harmison and saying I'm going to really hurt you guys. He said we are going to hurt you back bro. I said that is fine, but I'm going to go after this guy Freddie.

"Trescothick wasn't in good form"

"You were in top notch form, bowling at the best of your career"

"Somehow you helped me get back in the side Freddie"

"Had it not been for you bro it would have been very difficult for me because they were dropping me from the team"

"I said give me one Test Match. If I perform, I perform, if I don't let it go"

"Then all of a suddent I started bowling slower deliveries and getting you people out, so thank you very much Freddie"

 

[Rana]

Absolute fire!

Love this passion Shoaib and I wish there were hundreds with this fire in Pakistan!

 

[BunnyRabbit]

2005 test series was pure fire.

 

[Rana]

I can see Freddy and Harmy getting burned reading these comments in their living rooms, our fire!

KP chicken dance also

 

[tyron_woodley]

nice one shoaib. England- perennial bunnies of pakistan.

 

[Hawkeye]

Loving it.

What a legend Shoaib Akhtar is. The most fiery character, instilling absolute fear in the minds of the best batsmen of the last 20 years.

Everyone loved watching him run in and bowl. The fastest bowler to walk on planet Earth.

He inspired a generation.

No such bowler exists these days.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Dont really think Freddy cares mate.

 

[Varun]

Dont really think Freddy cares mate.

He didn't care much for his career either.

Problem is, neither did Shoaib too much.

 

[Rana]

Dont really think Freddy cares mate.

Shoaib is talking about 2005, he probably cared then.

 

[Slim]

Dont really think Freddy cares mate.

Shabby bhai reminiscing on the olden times.

 

[Ab Fan]

The fastest bowler in the 150 years of cricketing history.

 

[Rana]

Very good point on the slower delivery. Clear indication that the English batters were extremely cautious of Shoaib’s express pace that they were very easily floored by the deceptive nature of his rare slower delivery.

Love it when a bowler knows when he is very much in a batsman’s head

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Shoaib is talking about 2005, he probably cared then.

Doubt he cared too much then either. Shoaib seems to have a great imagination.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

He didn't care much for his career either.

Problem is, neither did Shoaib too much.

Freddie had some brief glimpses of talent and played through some crazy pain. He seems to really rise to the occasion for his country.

Shebby rose to the occasion when someone called him a name. As usual the teams success was second.

 

[tyron_woodley]

Flintoff is so freaking overrated. Dude had like one or 2 good series' at best. He got wrecked several times when he travelled abroad. The only reason he is looked up to is cause England were a pathetic mediocre side till about 04. He helped them beat australia at home for the first time after having to endure the agony of defeat for years at the hands of their most hated rival.


shoaib is ten times the player Flintoff ever was.

 

[Bhaijaan]

The last legend of Pakistan Cricket.

Shoaib Akhtar in that series in 2005 vs Pakistan bowled some of the most iconic spells I habe had the pleasure to witness on TV. I only feel envious of all the people who got to watch it live in the ground. What would i give to have the sheer joy of witnessing that Shoaib Akhyar bowling like that.

Brute pace and devastating reverse swing.

Freddie Flintoff was very annoying.

We too had many run offs with him. Ganguly in 2003, Yuvraj in 2007.

Hell of competitor he too was. Hate his guts not him as a person.

Modern day cricket misses these personalities and this level of talent so much.

We now have softies like Bumrah and Bobby Azam. Such a shame.

 

[Bhaijaan]

As a player Shabby was 9/10 level.

Flintoff was like 6.5. Get out of here!

 

[HitWicket]

Flintoff is so freaking overrated. Dude had like one or 2 good series' at best. He got wrecked several times when he travelled abroad. The only reason he is looked up to is cause England were a pathetic mediocre side till about 04. He helped them beat australia at home for the first time after having to endure the agony of defeat for years at the hands of their most hated rival.


shoaib is ten times the player Flintoff ever was.

Flintoff was a good test player with occasional periods of greatness in tests, probably about level with Akhtar on overall quality. It's ODI's where Flintoff seems to get criminally underrated and clearly blows Akhtar out the water.

 

[Rana]

Doubt he cared too much then either. Shoaib seems to have a great imagination.

Have you started watching cricket since the IPL started?

Flintoff was a national Icon from 2004 til 2007 in England. Of course he cared about becoming England’s best ever cricketer after the 2005 Ashes. It was serious banter on his part but it certainly riled up Shoaib. And it could be that Flintoff’s brash, arrogant attitude towards Shoaib may have ignited a serious fury in Akhtar. Which is great for Pakistan because the 2005 home series win was the best ever home win I have seen by Pakistan against a champion England Test side.

 

[Rana]

The last legend of Pakistan Cricket.

Shoaib Akhtar in that series in 2005 vs Pakistan bowled some of the most iconic spells I habe had the pleasure to witness on TV. I only feel envious of all the people who got to watch it live in the ground. What would i give to have the sheer joy of witnessing that Shoaib Akhyar bowling like that.

Brute pace and devastating reverse swing.

Freddie Flintoff was very annoying.

We too had many run offs with him. Ganguly in 2003, Yuvraj in 2007.

Hell of competitor he too was. Hate his guts not him as a person.

Modern day cricket misses these personalities and this level of talent so much.

We now have softies like Bumrah and Bobby Azam. Such a shame.

POTW

Shoaib doesn’t get the recognition he truly deserves on this forum. Too many people criticising him for his YouTube channel or public comments, yet they cease to forget that we have not had a 160kmh bowler who was a genuine big wicket taker, not just a wicket taker in cricket.

I would argue that the tide turned significantly in India’s favour against Pakistan since Shoaib retired and we truly did not find a replacement to his guile and class to bowl to the big stalwarts of Indian cricket.

 

[tyron_woodley]

Flintoff was a good test player with occasional periods of greatness in tests, probably about level with Akhtar on overall quality. It's ODI's where Flintoff seems to get criminally underrated and clearly blows Akhtar out the water.

rofl no. just no. I am not even going to respond again. Flintoff was no where near the player shoaib was at his best in tests.

Flintoff was trash away from home, particularly in Asia.

I don't care about odi's.

It's an Insult to compare a mediocre overrated all rounder to a player like shoaib who was close to an all time great.

 

[tyron_woodley]

POTW

Shoaib doesn’t get the recognition he truly deserves on this forum. Too many people criticising him for his YouTube channel or public comments, yet they cease to forget that we have not had a 160kmh bowler who was a genuine big wicket taker, not just a wicket taker in cricket.

I would argue that the tide turned significantly in India’s favour against Pakistan since Shoaib retired and we truly did not find a replacement to his guile and class to bowl to the big stalwarts of Indian cricket.

even with shoaib it was still close. India won more tests vs pakistam in the post 2000 era. Pretty sure odi record was close too in the 2000 era with india winning many crucial games in the world icc level stage.

 

[HitWicket]

rofl no. just no. I am not even going to respond again. Flintoff was no where near the player shoaib was at his best in tests.

Flintoff was trash away from home, particularly in Asia.

I don't care about odi's.

It's an Insult to compare a mediocre overrated all rounder to a player like shoaib who was close to an all time great.

Of course you're not going to respond again because you're making up complete nonsense. Flintoff was a notably more effective bowler in Asia than at home.

 

[Hawkeye]

As a player Shabby was 9/10 level.

Flintoff was like 6.5. Get out of here!

Yep.

No comparison in terms of greatness and skills between these two.

 

[tyron_woodley]

Of course you're not going to respond again because you're making up complete nonsense. Flintoff was a notably more effective bowler in Asia than at home.

shoaib could take the pitch out of the equation anywhere.
flint off is the definition of being a bit part player. He had 1 good ashes series and a couple of other good matches vs s.a and india. He struggled vs pakistan.

His batting was pretty mediocre except in n.z.

shoaib single handedly ripped through top lineups in his prime. Bowling on dead wickets btw without any support.

 

[PakPremi]

Talks lots of ** and self appraisals.

 

[Asifnow]

shoaib could take the pitch out of the equation anywhere.
flint off is the definition of being a bit part player. He had 1 good ashes series and a couple of other good matches vs s.a and india. He struggled vs pakistan.

His batting was pretty mediocre except in n.z.

shoaib single handedly ripped through top lineups in his prime. Bowling on dead wickets btw without any support.

Freds 2009 Ashes was pretty good and he was bowling at 95mph. He had many top level batting innings across all formats too. To call a guy with those performances bit part is a bit weird.

 

[Saj]

Akhtar seemed to be at his best when wound-up by opponents or team-mates.

The likes of KP, Harmison and Flintoff had plenty to say and I think Akhtar enjoyed that challenge.

 

[Savak]

Flintoff is an underachiever, he had the talent to be better than Botham but alas his body failed him. He played the 2009 ashes against medical advice and the damage his knees took ended his career for good. Classic case of putting the short term ahead of the long term.

 

[chacha kashmiri]

Akhtar 1999 apart sadly didn't perform at world cups
As for Flintoff I can't remember him doing anything at world cups, he was definitely more a test player or ashes player to be more specific

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Have you started watching cricket since the IPL started?

Flintoff was a national Icon from 2004 til 2007 in England. Of course he cared about becoming England’s best ever cricketer after the 2005 Ashes. It was serious banter on his part but it certainly riled up Shoaib. And it could be that Flintoff’s brash, arrogant attitude towards Shoaib may have ignited a serious fury in Akhtar. Which is great for Pakistan because the 2005 home series win was the best ever home win I have seen by Pakistan against a champion England Test side.

Haha. Im from the UK and support Pakistan. You could argue that I have watched cricket less since it has been commercialised due to the UK.

I know how much Flintoff was loved here and I also remember how Pakistan murdered England but in the grand scheme of things I can guarantee that apart from Shoaib nobody is really reminicing on that series, certaintly not here.

 

[Zaz]

rofl no. just no. I am not even going to respond again. Flintoff was no where near the player shoaib was at his best in tests.

Flintoff was trash away from home, particularly in Asia.

I don't care about odi's.

It's an Insult to compare a mediocre overrated all rounder to a player like shoaib who was close to an all time great.

In what sense was shoaib a close ATG? You say u dont care about odis then is shoaibs 160 odd test wkts ATG standard?

 

[Saj]

In what sense was shoaib a close ATG? You say u dont care about odis then is shoaibs 160 odd test wkts ATG standard?

A good bowler on his day, a very good bowler if in the mood. But definitely not an all-time great.

Certainly not in the class of the 2 Ws.

 

[Savak]

A good bowler on his day, a very good bowler if in the mood. But definitely not an all-time great.

Certainly not in the class of the 2 Ws.

Funny how Michael Holding gets revered all over the world even though he only has 249 test wickets, 142 ODI wickets whereas Shoaib has 178 test wickets, 247 ODI wickets and 19 T-20 wickets but the former is an all time great but the later doesn't deserve any recognition?

 

[Bhaijaan]

POTW

Shoaib doesn’t get the recognition he truly deserves on this forum. Too many people criticising him for his YouTube channel or public comments, yet they cease to forget that we have not had a 160kmh bowler who was a genuine big wicket taker, not just a wicket taker in cricket.

I would argue that the tide turned significantly in India’s favour against Pakistan since Shoaib retired and we truly did not find a replacement to his guile and class to bowl to the big stalwarts of Indian cricket.

Shoaib Akhtar is a superstar in India.

Unlike what people feel, Indians never showed prejudice for his on field aggression. He made India-Pakistan matches fun to watch for all of us growing up.

Just take Shoaib Akhtar out of the equation and imagine all India-Pakistan encounters during his era and you will realize he was the BIGGEST ATTRACTION in those matches alomg with Sachin and the perfect Anti-Hero figure.

Brett Lee never had that aura. His clean action made him more visible and playeable besides he was a good boy. Akhtar's action made him seem a lot quicker even if he was hitting it same as Lee and he has that raw aggression and personality to back it up.

I actually do feel his issues sometimes, if he was an Indian imagine all the extra money he would have madem. Nonetheless he's one of the most passionate Pakistanis from what I see.

Pakistanis should respect and learn to live with hai personality. He's like that. He's painduu by heart and that makes him great.

 

[Savak]

Shoaib Akhtar is a superstar in India.

Unlike what people feel, Indians never showed prejudice for his on field aggression. He made India-Pakistan matches fun to watch for all of us growing up.

Just take Shoaib Akhtar out of the equation and imagine all India-Pakistan encounters during his era and you will realize he was the BIGGEST ATTRACTION in those matches alomg with Sachin and the perfect Anti-Hero figure.

Brett Lee never had that aura. His clean action made him more visible and playeable besides he was a good boy. Akhtar's action made him seem a lot quicker even if he was hitting it same as Lee and he has that raw aggression and personality to back it up.

I actually do feel his issues sometimes, if he was an Indian imagine all the extra money he would have madem. Nonetheless he's one of the most passionate Pakistanis from what I see.

Pakistanis should respect and learn to live with hai personality. He's like that. He's painduu by heart and that makes him great.

2.1 million youtube subscribers do not lie, people care and listen to him whether he talks sense or gibberish. People who dismiss Shoaib as a wasted potential and his stats do not do the same for Michael Holding even though both had similar stats, in fact Shoaib operated in a tougher era for fast bowling compared to the W's and Holding.

 

[Bhaijaan]

Shoaib Akhtar is an All Time Great.

Who's an ATG anyway? It's a guy who will hold his own in any era..

Shoaib Akhtar will bring a storm to any era you out him in. He's blockbuster and he's the fastest bowler ever.

Pakistan played on the FLATTEST pitches known to mankind for most of Akhtar's career which ruined his figures (actually he still averages a world class 26 something I guess).

In Australia he single handedly won the ODI series in 2002 and in NZ he averaged like 10 something at his peak and annihilated entire NZ batting in a spell. What are you talking about? Shoaib would have 300 test wickets at 20 of Pakistan could dish out.pitcjes with some pace and bounce.

Even on those dead tracks he gave the keeper a tough time. When our Pathans and Zaheers were struggling to get the ball up, his bouncers were flying over Latif/Moeen.

 

[Bhaijaan]

2.1 million youtube subscribers do not lie, people care and listen to him whether he talks sense or gibberish. People who dismiss Shoaib as a wasted potential and his stats do not do the same for Michael Holding even though both had similar stats, in fact Shoaib operated in a tougher era for fast bowling compared to the W's and Holding.

2.1 million youtube subscribers do not lie, people care and listen to him whether he talks sense or gibberish. People who dismiss Shoaib as a wasted potential and his stats do not do the same for Michael Holding even though both had similar stats, in fact Shoaib operated in a tougher era for fast bowling compared to the W's and Holding.

Michael Holding bowled at batsmen who didn't have helmets to protect themselves and he could bowl 6 bouncers an over, he's not even in the dame discussion as Shoaib Akhtar as far as I am concerned. Yes, in his era Holding was a terror but you put Akhtar in that era and he would be digging up graves for batsmen on the 22 yards.

Holding against India in the 2000s would be having 40+ bowling average tours, same vs Aussies. Sehwag would own him

 

[Rana]

Shoaib Akhtar is a superstar in India.

Unlike what people feel, Indians never showed prejudice for his on field aggression. He made India-Pakistan matches fun to watch for all of us growing up.

Just take Shoaib Akhtar out of the equation and imagine all India-Pakistan encounters during his era and you will realize he was the BIGGEST ATTRACTION in those matches alomg with Sachin and the perfect Anti-Hero figure.

Brett Lee never had that aura. His clean action made him more visible and playeable besides he was a good boy. Akhtar's action made him seem a lot quicker even if he was hitting it same as Lee and he has that raw aggression and personality to back it up.

I actually do feel his issues sometimes, if he was an Indian imagine all the extra money he would have madem. Nonetheless he's one of the most passionate Pakistanis from what I see.

Pakistanis should respect and learn to live with hai personality. He's like that. He's painduu by heart and that makes him great.

Yeah bro, Shoaib was the actual villain for Indian fans in an epic saga. I think Sehwag, Dhoni and Yuvraj had the same impact on Pakistan fans. These guys took the game away from Pakistan so many times.

I’m proud of growing up watching the Akhtar v Tendulkar battles. You can’t recreate that kind of battle with the current superstars and how T20 has normalised batsmen dominating

 

[Zaz]

Funny how Michael Holding gets revered all over the world even though he only has 249 test wickets, 142 ODI wickets whereas Shoaib has 178 test wickets, 247 ODI wickets and 19 T-20 wickets but the former is an all time great but the later doesn't deserve any recognition?

How do they have similar stats? Take out jamodis as not many were played in the 70s and 80s, holding has 71 test wickets more thats 40% more test wickets

Brett Lee whos probably a less talented test bowler has over 300 test wickets

Pakistan could have done without all his disciplinary and offield issues

Akhter definetly underachieved in tests

 

[Savak]

How do they have similar stats? Take out jamodis as not many were played in the 70s and 80s, holding has 71 test wickets more thats 40% more test wickets

Brett Lee whos probably a less talented test bowler has over 300 test wickets

Pakistan could have done without all his disciplinary and offield issues

Akhter definetly underachieved in tests

Over 300 test wickets means squat if you are averaging 32 to get them especially if you have for most of your career played for the greatest Australian side of all time from 1999 to 2007 with Mcgrath, Gillespie, Kasprowicz, Warne as your fellow bowlers.

Overall Akhtar combined has more international wickets than Holding who operated in a more bowling friendly era. Akhtar achieved as much as his body allowed him too.

 

[kingusama92]

That 2005 series was incredible.

 

[Forum363]

I remember being a young kid in England during the 05 ashes and it was the first time I really heard about cricket in the mainstream media.

Before that, as with everyone around me, I was obsessed with football and that’s all everyone played and talked about.

However over that period, cricket was everywhere. People were running around saying the ashes are coming home etc. Yet it failed to capture my imagination and though I watched some as it was being shown for free on channel 4 - it didn’t interest me that much.

Fast forward a few months and the same England team was touring Pakistan. My dad would wake up early (5ish UK time) to start watching the matches, and I started watching them with him.

I can’t remember the exact moment, but somewhere within that series I became absolutely and completely hooked onto cricket and it was due to one person - Shoaib Akhtar. His bowling, his personality, even his hairstyle was insane.

I distinctly remember running outside and starting to swing my arm round and trying to bowl. And then doing it in my room at the bookshelf with a scrunched up paper ball. And then basically whenever I could.

That passion for Pakistan cricket has never wavered and it’s all down to Shoaib.

 

[tyron_woodley]

I respect and admire shoaib. One of my favourite bowlers. I agree he isn't an ATG but he is close to it.

Far better than Flintoff. That's for sure. Put it this way, shoaib would be much closer to an ATG status than fattyflintoff.

He could single handedly take the game away from the opppsotion. Flintoff could never trouble the best Batsmen and take them out of the game like shoaib. Impact wise shoaib was just remarkable. The sheer pace, power, speed and viciousness of his bouncers would make any top batsmen quiver and find a way to exit the field. At his absolute best he was just unplayable.

 

[Kashmirilion]

The man the legend the phenom!! Shoaib Akhtar I miss you steaming in man!! Greatest run up action and celebration of any bowler i have seen.

 

[Robert]

Duncan Fletcher was out-thought by Bob Woolmer that series. England had won their last five test series with an aggregate of 14 wins to 2 losses and came down with a bit of a bump here. Maybe they thought it would be easy - relaxed too much after getting the Ashes back for the first time in sixteen years. They badly missed Simon Jones, who would have cleaned up in Pakistan. There was no real spin option either - Monty was not picked until the next year.

 

[Robert]

I respect and admire shoaib. One of my favourite bowlers. I agree he isn't an ATG but he is close to it.

Far better than Flintoff. That's for sure. Put it this way, shoaib would be much closer to an ATG status than fattyflintoff.

He could single handedly take the game away from the opppsotion. Flintoff could never trouble the best Batsmen and take them out of the game like shoaib. Impact wise shoaib was just remarkable. The sheer pace, power, speed and viciousness of his bouncers would make any top batsmen quiver and find a way to exit the field. At his absolute best he was just unplayable.

Look up on YouTube the overs he bowled at Ponting and Kallis - the latter rates him as the most difficult bowler he faced.

Flintoff was an underachiever with the ball though - almost always a yard too short throughout his career.

 

[BoomBoomCricket]

Shoaib Akhtar only ever played 1 Test Match in England and didn't bowl well.

 

[BoomBoomCricket]

I respect and admire shoaib. One of my favourite bowlers. I agree he isn't an ATG but he is close to it.

Far better than Flintoff. That's for sure. Put it this way, shoaib would be much closer to an ATG status than fattyflintoff.

He could single handedly take the game away from the opppsotion. Flintoff could never trouble the best Batsmen and take them out of the game like shoaib. Impact wise shoaib was just remarkable. The sheer pace, power, speed and viciousness of his bouncers would make any top batsmen quiver and find a way to exit the field. At his absolute best he was just unplayable.

Have some respect for MOTS in the greatest Test series ever played.

He was a talisman Freddie.

A crowd puller. Entertainer. Got lots of kids into cricket.

 

[IMMY69]

Shoaib can make his money now on social media and by making outrageous statements...
Good for him if someone is willing to pay him...

But for gods sakes please don’t call him an All time great...
He was never a great

 

[Rana]

Duncan Fletcher was out-thought by Bob Woolmer that series. England had won their last five test series with an aggregate of 14 wins to 2 losses and came down with a bit of a bump here. Maybe they thought it would be easy - relaxed too much after getting the Ashes back for the first time in sixteen years. They badly missed Simon Jones, who would have cleaned up in Pakistan. There was no real spin option either - Monty was not picked until the next year.

Simon Jones would not last more than 2 days in a Test Match in Pakistan let alone clean up lol

 

[silly-mid-on]

All this fawning praise of Shoaib, I don't get it.

Shoaib on his day was amazing yes, but the issue was those days were too few and far between. What was the use of bowling 95mph+ if those deliveries were long hops and half volleys, which they often were?

He's probably the greatest wasted talent Pak has seen in the last 30 years. The fact that he got to where he did is a testament to just how good he was cos I don't think we saw a fully committed and on-form Shoaib for at least 60% of his time in a green shirt.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

That was some tour. Pakistan hammered them in Odis and tests.

This was when Afridi was for me at his batting best, perfect average of 30 for a lower order allrounder.

Inzamam was insane in the tests. Kamran akmal was amazing in the Odis. The whole tour was a collective effort from Pakistan.

 

[Savak]

Shoaib Akhtar only ever played 1 Test Match in England and didn't bowl well.

He was actually struggling for match fitness and rhythm. Varous factors, he had changed his bowling action and he hadn't played a test match for a year and a half. Also the team management were originally planning to play Sami in that game but he injured his heel on the day of the match and there was no choice but to play a half fit half ready Shoaib.

Shoaib bowled at 88-92 mph in his first spell repeatedly hurrying and beating Michael Atherton and Michael Vaughan but from the second spell onwards he was reduced to 85-86 mph onwards and English players were able to negotiate with him easily. In hindsight he should not have been picked for that game because he was not ready.

 

[Savak]

All this fawning praise of Shoaib, I don't get it.

Shoaib on his day was amazing yes, but the issue was those days were too few and far between. What was the use of bowling 95mph+ if those deliveries were long hops and half volleys, which they often were?

He's probably the greatest wasted talent Pak has seen in the last 30 years. The fact that he got to where he did is a testament to just how good he was cos I don't think we saw a fully committed and on-form Shoaib for at least 60% of his time in a green shirt.

Who says they were long hops and half volleys, you don't achieve a bowling average of 24-25 in a batting friendly era by only bowling long hops and half volleys

 

[Saj]

Seems that some believe you are only a good bowler if you have a big social media following.

 

[Savak]

Seems that some believe you are only a good bowler if you have a big social media following.

Lol, if people didn't care what one has to say he would not have the largest social media following of all past and present cricketers.

Also when Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting, Mathew Hayden, Andrew Flintoff and Co constantly sing your praises even if your stats lack posterity, you can rest in comfort that you were more than a good bowler

 

[FreePalestine]

Doubt he cared too much then either. Shoaib seems to have a great imagination.

I’m sure he would’ve cared that England lost that series 2-0 and Shoaib got bucketloads of wickets

 

[Hawkeye]

Michael Holding bowled at batsmen who didn't have helmets to protect themselves and he could bowl 6 bouncers an over, he's not even in the dame discussion as Shoaib Akhtar as far as I am concerned. Yes, in his era Holding was a terror but you put Akhtar in that era and he would be digging up graves for batsmen on the 22 yards.

Holding against India in the 2000s would be having 40+ bowling average tours, same vs Aussies. Sehwag would own him

Yep.

Shoaib Akhtar is a definite great of the game for me and millions others.

Inspired a whole generation of cricketers + fans.

Obviously, great bowling record too.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

As a player Shabby was 9/10 level.

Flintoff was like 6.5. Get out of here!

Take out the 2005 Ashes and there is not much to remember Flintoff by

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

2005 England series was brilliant. Pakistan really hurt England in that series after England missed out on the first match by a close margin. By the final game England were having one of those typically horrendous sub-continental tours where they are left out-batted, out-bowled and completely drained mentally. And Shobby was there to pick up the pieces.

 

[Saj]

Lol, if people didn't care what one has to say he would not have the largest social media following of all past and present cricketers.

Also when Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting, Mathew Hayden, Andrew Flintoff and Co constantly sing your praises even if your stats lack posterity, you can rest in comfort that you were more than a good bowler

Makes zero difference to how good a player was.

Some players hardly post on social media, that doesn't mean they weren't great.

 

[Abdullah719]

Comments from TalkSport:

Akhtar - "We knew Freddie before he played for England through Wasim Akram since he played for Manchester. He told us about this young little kid coming up, he's highly talented and he'll be the next Ian Botham. We were curious about him and I finally faced him in Sharjah.

"In 1998, Hollioake was the captain and I was standing in the covers, Freddie was batting and hitting sixes off Saqlain, hitting so furiously and powerfully. I was standing scared, I thought he's so powerful. Then we saw him bowl and we thought he's multi-talented.

"Over a period of time, he became one of the greatest cricketers and the Ashes was the highlights of his career. We thoroughly enjoyed facing him. He was a great competitor and we knew he's a team and a half himself, he could win matches himself."

Freddie - "I remember making my debut in Sharjah, I was batting 5/6. The night before we had a team meeting and sat down, they put the fear of God into us. We saw Shoaib Akhtar, hitting people on the head in videos and getting people out.

"As I was waiting to bat, Neil Fairbrother, one of the old pros, was next in and he was counting the balls down, he was thinking he's only going to bowl 5 overs, he's getting up to nearly 100 MPH. I was thinking I don't need this on me debut. I don't think I faced him."

"I played at Lancashire at 16 years of age and Wasim Akram, one of my heroes and someone I looked up to, took me under his wing. I spent so much time with him, I would field at slip when he was bowling. I picked up all these tips of reverse swing and thumb positions. My action a little bit lended itself towards reverse swing. Wasim had a massive part in my career and I love the bones of the man."

Akhtar - "I got into a fight with Matthew Hayden. It was the first game of the World Cup and we lost it, I completely lost it. Hayden used to call me a C-class actor and low-grade fast-bowler. I said Matthew, I'm gonna have a go at you in the World Cup.

"Bad luck for me that we lost the game and it was really bad luck on top of that that we got up for breakfast really early in the morning. I won't get into details but Matthew and myself were alone, standing and having a verbal chat. We got into a fight, a really bad fight.

"Matthew was the one guy, and Justin Langer, they used to tease me. They would ask me to bowl quick and quick and quick. I went after them and I wasted a lot of energy in the Melbourne and Perth Test matches but I hit them badly, I hit Matthew Hayden around 5 times in 3 overs. But that guy never moved an inch, I was shocked to see that.

"People would get under my skin badly at times and I faced many problems with the management and with batsmen.

"I'm going to be thankful to you, Freddie. Had it not been for you, my career would've been long gone before I knew it. That was the series against England. If you wouldn't have treated me - I won't say badly, but you motivated me enough to get back in the side.

"What you did, I thought your behaviour was a bit rude towards me and I thought you couldn't fully understand me. On top of that, you said that famous line, 'look like Tarzan and bowl like Jane' so I said this Jane can bowl fast, let me show this guy to you.

"I remember talking to Harmison and I said Harmison, I'm going to really hurt you guys. He said we're going to hurt you back, bro. I said that's fine but I'm gonna go after this guy Freddie.

"Marcus Trescothick wasn't in good form but you were, you were bowling at your best. Somehow, you helped me get back in the side. Had it not been for you, it would've been very difficult for me because they were dropping me from the team. I said give me one Test, if I perform then I perform, if I don't then let it go.

"All of a sudden, it all started picking up. I was getting people out with slower ones in Test matches."

 

[silentkiller187]

Dont really think Freddy cares mate.

freddy mentioned the story first so...

 

[Zaz]

Lol, if people didn't care what one has to say he would not have the largest social media following of all past and present cricketers.

Also when Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting, Mathew Hayden, Andrew Flintoff and Co constantly sing your praises even if your stats lack posterity, you can rest in comfort that you were more than a good bowler

Id like to see this praise? Many including the above have praised akhter for being the fastest theyve faced which he was but not many have him as a great over waqar

Even if the likes of ponting flintoff and hayden and co say it its cos they played the majority of their cricket in the late 90s and 2000s when waqar was done and shoaib was young and in his pomp

Yove got to remember waqar debuted in 1989 hes from a different era to shoaib and the flintoff n co Ask the batters who faced waqar in his prime who was better Youd get a different answer

 

[Markhor]

Shoaib was a great entertainer but a giant pain in the backside.

Yes fast bowling is extremely tough on the body and Shoaib had some legit medical issues, but being mired in controversies like ball tampering, shoving the coach, excessive partying and taking PEDs is on him. Nobody forced him to do any of those things.

It's a joke to compare him to Michael Holding who contributed to the greatest Test team of all time, that went unbeaten for 15 years in Test series, to a spoilt diva that failed to carry the fast bowling burden after Wasim and Waqar left and ended his career an unfit parody of himself, humiliated in the 2011 World Cup by New Zealand.

The fact is our famous 2005 series in India was without Shoaib. We didn't need him during our 2009 WT20 victory. He got busted for drugs before the 2006 Champions Trophy and faked an injury to avoid the 2007 World Cup where ICC drug testers would've busted him again. In the biggest duel of his career against Tendulkar in the 2003 World Cup, in a do or die match, he was pummelled and begged Waqar to be taken out of the attack.

Now he spends his time debasing himself on YouTube where this big macho "patriotic" man constantly sucks up to Indian audiences. That's the truth.

 

[silentkiller187]

Id like to see this praise? Many including the above have praised akhter for being the fastest theyve faced which he was but not many have him as a great over waqar

Even if the likes of ponting flintoff and hayden and co say it its cos they played the majority of their cricket in the late 90s and 2000s when waqar was done and shoaib was young and in his pomp

Yove got to remember waqar debuted in 1989 hes from a different era to shoaib and the flintoff n co Ask the batters who faced waqar in his prime who was better Youd get a different answer

If you listen to the way some of the old players, especially the English players of the early 90's talk about Waqar, you would not put him in the same breathe as Akthar. Waqar does not get the praise he deserves on this forum, i do wonder sometimes why, especially when on other forums and twitter polls fans from australia, england , New zealand are gushing in their praise for him any time an ATG Bowler topic is discussed.

 

[Robert]

If you listen to the way some of the old players, especially the English players of the early 90's talk about Waqar, you would not put him in the same breathe as Akthar. Waqar does not get the praise he deserves on this forum, i do wonder sometimes why, especially when on other forums and twitter polls fans from australia, england , New zealand are gushing in their praise for him any time an ATG Bowler topic is discussed.

When I think of truly overpowering fast bowling I have two core images - Marshall in 1984, and Waqar in 1992.

 

[tyron_woodley]

When I think of truly overpowering fast bowling I have two core images - Marshall in 1984, and Waqar in 1992.

depends what team you support. waqar dominated England but struggled vs india and australia.

shoaib struggled vs australia and india but had some good moments too unlike waqar.