Part of determining an individual’s greatness is also of course to step and back and locate the individual within a wider historical canvass.
In this respect understanding the particular genius of Wasim Akram is even more important in the age of today.
The language employed when discussing pace bowling – excluding express bowlers - often revolves around, ‘line and length’, ‘corridor’, ‘bowling in the right areas.’ The subtext is that pace bowling is about restriction, repetition about denying runs to the batsman.
So many bowlers – except express bowlers - as a result seem to more conservative, less daring. The prevailing mindset is that, bowling is about a war of attrition, about containing, negating, wearing down the batsmen.
Even in terms of bowling actions, there seems to be a convergence towards a prototype of what is considered an ideal action. ‘Mixed’ actions are increasingly frowned upon by experts.
Wasim Akram’s bowling was the anti-thesis of this prevailing mind set. His action was natural, distinctive and ‘mixed’ with back foot pointing one way and front foot another. Akram wanted to beat the batsman not suffocate them. His bowling was not about waiting for an error, but it was about seizing the initiative.
Ultimately his style of bowling reminded us all, that ambition and imagination can be as a much a part of fast bowling as precision, that bowling can be about variety not just repetition, and that it can involve inspiration as well as perspiration.
Even in his time he challenged conventional thinking, was a non-conformist, an untamed maverick who reminded us that fast bowling could be subtle and guileful, that it is not only batsman who can be artists.
In the current age, with the prevailing mindset as it is, his particular contribution is brought into even sharper focus.
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