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Mohammad Amir's lack of swing

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FreePalestine

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I know he is a quality swing bowler and am sure he still has it, but since the tests, amir hasn't produced magic swinging spells. I know wickets UAE don't help, but in England S Khan swung it more than him, even Rahat in the first test.

Remember this? And of course Asia Cup spell.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_2sC0ULx_Zg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I think he needs time to recover from the tough media scrutiny he has gone through in Eng. Then we will see him at his best again.

Of course still had quality control, pace and intelligence throughout, and had many catches dropped off him in the tests. But THAT swinging spell hasn't been seen for a while.
 
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That spell he had probably won't be equaled. His swing bowling was pretty good in the 1st ODI. He beat the bat a number of times. Was unlucky not to get a wicket. Sohail and Rahat get more swing mostly because they bowl slower. He is our best fast bowler in LOI matches, but has a fair bit of competition in Test matches.
 
The seam is coming out perfectly though so his wrist is in the right position.

It may something technical like balance at the crease or using his right arm a bit more but yeah it's a bit of a mystery on why the ball isn't swinging.
 
He would do good in NZ tour IA. And then on he'll get his rhythm back. Don't think he'll get a lot of swing from UAE phattas in current series though. Hopefully he plays the Dubai test and with Pink Ball he should be able to get some swing
 
On the other hand, his pace has been great. His highest was either 92 or 93 mph in the last match which is serious pace! Pace is pace yaar. :akhtar :wahab :amir
 
Well according to wasim he's not flicking his wrists even though the ball release is perfect. I was really disappointed to see that he was using a cutter as an outswinger. I don't remember exactly but I think he had a proper outswinger before the spot fixing saga, correct me if I'm wrong.
 
90MPH said:
The seam is coming out perfectly though so his wrist is in the right position.

It may something technical like balance at the crease or using his right arm a bit more but yeah it's a bit of a mystery on why the ball isn't swinging.
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Mostly issue with the right arm imo
 
The pressure on him to succeed in Test Cricket is mounting, this has directly effected his LOI Game. Before his comeback to Test Cricket, he was doing pretty well in the NZ Tour, as well as the Asia Cup. But after Test Cricket, in the LOI Games in England, and UAE showed that he is under pressure. Test Cricket is supposed to improve a players control, line and length, and skill but in Amir's case, it actually worsened his One Day Game
 
he needs a bit more time....needs to be in his rhythm... May be he is still thinking about past or so...his pace is improved...but not that much swing.... something wrong with the release.... I have noticed he is going over the wicket to the right hander to bowl... the delivery that straightens a bit.... but that won't trouble experienced batters.... and while bowling round the wicket...he is using mostly cutters or angling it across the right handers rather than bowling conventional swingers.... May be confidence is low..... that's why... in ODIS it will work...but he won't get much purchase... in tests he will struggle....
 
Ellipsism said:
He is slowly regaining form... Will be back to his best in a year or so. Already has the pace now just needs to regain the swing. Still is Pakistan's best bowler.
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It's not that easy. Time can't fix everything.

We'll see. Good to be optimistic, but not guaranteed he'll be back to his best.
 
Air conditions and weather not suitable for swing bowling.

Need to rely on seam here. But pitches are also unresponsive to fast bowler seam movement.
 
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Hawkeye said:
Air conditions and weather not suitable for swing bowling.

Need to rely on seam here. But pitches are also unresponsive to fast bowler seam movement.
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Tbf even in England series he wasn't swinging much while Rahat Ali was swinging miles often without much idea himself it seemed
 
Slog said:
Tbf even in England series he wasn't swinging much while Rahat Ali was swinging miles often without much idea himself it seemed
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There was swing, specially with the shiny ball but not on every playing day. Anderson too wasn't swinging it when Amir wasn't.

But yes the 2010 swing wasn't there. There's somewhat of a decline yes
 
Seems like those 5 years turned a future legend bowler into just a good bowler.
 
It's very simple, he needs to lock his wrist and then flick it.

The swing will be the same as before.
 
Wasim should just say either you have the swing or you don't.

No point in repeating the same line every time. Many try and do just that but still can't swing.
 
Does he forget to lock his wrist and flick it.... no...its probably he is doing those things but not in the desired way.....wasim akram might guide him
 
Slog said:
Tbf even in England series he wasn't swinging much while Rahat Ali was swinging miles often without much idea himself it seemed
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None of the wickets and the environment in that series were conducive to swing or seam bowling. They were either slowish or belters or belters with true bounce. It will be more of the same and worse in the UAE.

But looking at the current state of New Zealand, they would be desperate to win at home against Pakistan. I won't be surprised if they lay out greentops for Pakistan to win at all costs. I can see Amir wreaking havoc at the kiwi batsmen in that series.
 
street cricketer said:
None of the wickets and the environment in that series were conducive to swing or seam bowling. They were either slowish or belters or belters with true bounce. It will be more of the same and worse in the UAE.

But looking at the current state of New Zealand, they would be desperate to win at home against Pakistan. I won't be surprised if they lay out greentops for Pakistan to win at all costs. I can see Amir wreaking havoc at the kiwi batsmen in that series.
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they werent like 2010 but there was sth. Woakes did quite a bit of damage

I think people are underating NZ quite a bit here.

if there are green tops Boult and Southee will wreck us

Batting is light but Williamsom just needs one more consistent solid bat.

2 test series caan go either way
 
Slog said:
they werent like 2010 but there was sth. Woakes did quite a bit of damage

I think people are underating NZ quite a bit here.

if there are green tops Boult and Southee will wreck us

Batting is light but Williamsom just needs one more consistent solid bat.

2 test series caan go either way
Click to expand...

There was not much for the bowlers though, otherwise Anderson would've run riot. He was in top form in just the previous series. Woakes (and Sohail) bowled in really good channels consistently and reaped the rewards. Honestly I wouldn't blame Amir much. Yes he was guilty of wasting the new ball sometimes by straying to the wrong channel. But they weren't typical English conditions and frankly a bowler cannot lose it suddenly, he was weaving magic just a month ago at Dhaka.

The kiwis have a good bowling attack but their batting is Kane or bust. I overestimated them earlier but looks like B'Mac's departure has affected them quite a lot. I don't see their batting posing a challenge for Pakistan.
 
Needs to delay the ball release by few milli seconds and impart more backspin. Will be fine once again like previously.


Still looking for the delivery with straight seam going with the angle at 90 mph with the wrist behind it. Sachin, Clark, Prior, Swann & Pieterson.


Willey, Starc & Sohail still swing the white ball considerably in all atmospheres.



Still waiting for 2009-2010 Amir.

I still have hope.
 
Overrated bowler, he has forgotten the art of swing bowling, getting a free ride in the team like Wahab, he can't match the Amir of 2010, that was something special, if some say that the conditions aren't ideal for swing, then one should watch Sohail Khan's spell in the last ODI against West Indies, with the new ball, he was swinging it beautifully, so it means he is not good enough now, he has been fast tracked into International cricket, ideally should have played one year of domestic cricket.
 
He is very similar to Boult, they both once had a outswinger to the right handers, but for some reason cant do it anymore so struggle to get wickets against right hand batsmen.
Amir bowls well to left handers, but to have more success against right handers he needs to bowl closer to the stumps and try point the seam to first slip instead of bowling a cutter which is a weak option (Boult does this too)
 
Regaining something is actually a lot harder than what people think.

In my first season when I played for a club I used to bowl 5 yorkers out of 6 bowls consistently, it was my stock ball.

Two seasons on I've lost that consistency and I'm lucky to get one or two where I want it.

What's changed? I don't know, we play 3-4 months a year here then off for 7-8. Also, the more you try out new things, the more it affects your best ball I presume, probably the same that's happened with Amir.
 
This is a big problem.

He needs to watch some of his old clips and analyse them with great depth, to see if there is any difference or not.

He is seaming the ball, but he used to swing the ball a lot.
 
You are right! Apart from having a decent inswinging spell in Asia Cup, he is unable to swing the ball much. I was watching his old clips and he as swinging it much better even on dry tracks. And no body is pushing him for that. I hope he realises that his swing is essential against top teams.
 
People are reading too much into this. Too much is being made out of the 2010 England tour, the wickets were very juicy and helpful for the seamers. Amir also had Asif bowling well at the other end.

This time teams are aware of Amir and they do their homework on him. They know he is mostly reliant on the inswinger and doesn't swing the ball away much. Also Amir due to over confidence perhaps took his skills and natural abilities for granted. It is now up to him to fix things.
 
AlphaFighter said:
People are reading too much into this. Too much is being made out of the 2010 England tour, the wickets were very juicy and helpful for the seamers. Amir also had Asif bowling well at the other end.

This time teams are aware of Amir and they do their homework on him. They know he is mostly reliant on the inswinger and doesn't swing the ball away much. Also Amir due to over confidence perhaps took his skills and natural abilities for granted. It is now up to him to fix things.
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Ah.. ahaha good one. :asif
 
wow massive surprise that he is nowhere near as good as all the children thought he was.

at the moment he is medicore, and on merit isnt even a definite pick. maybe he will get better, but there no doubt he was rushed in prematurely, and expectations were stupidly high.
 
It hasn't been a year (come back). Give some times. He is one of the true talents that Pak has ever produced. He has to work on his game (domestic level) to get back on top.
 
Ask any of these ACC's to go away from their profession (any type) and than try to make a comeback and be as good as before just like that...I bet 99% will fail miserably with most of them quitting soon all togather!

If cricket was played, as it is in your silly minds, Pak will have a completely new team and captain in each game...none of you seem to understand how tough it to get back and just be at the same level after such a big gap, many/most can never get back what they once had.

I have no doubt in my mind that Amir will be back to his best soon as long as he keeps trying as hard he has been doing lately
 
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Not a pretty stats for Amir against first match against Scotland.

I understand that it's flat wicket, but being top order bowler. Amir should get proper swing with new ball. That has been his strength.

Pace + Swing.
 
I can show you dozen games where boult went for plenty in Ipl this is t 20 they are played on pattas they come dime a dozen its no big deal to have one below par game
 
cricketworm said:
Not a pretty stats for Amir against first match against Scotland.

I understand that it's flat wicket, but being top order bowler. Amir should get proper swing with new ball. That has been his strength.

Pace + Swing.
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Since his come back he has been quite average overall.

Yes he has been unlucky, many catches dropped off of his bowling. This can for sure have a demoralizing effect on a bowler. Having one catch taken can easily lead to 1 or 2 more wickets as the bowler gets confidence and momentum from the first wicket. So the 20 or so catches dropped off of him has cost him maybe 25-30 wickets.

However at the end of the day, Pakistani bowlers of the past had to contend with even poorer fielding and still managed to pick up wickets.

What I have seen is that Amir when conditions suit his bowling, gets this freak late swing. It makes even batsmen like Kohli look amateurish. However, when conditions are not in his favour, he does not adapt and just looks poor.

When he isnt getting it to swing he needs to mix in more slower balls. Throw in a couple of surprise yorkers. Bang it in to let the batsman know he can't just play you on the front foot.
 
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