[VIDEO] "Wasim Akram would always be my first pick in any World XI": David 'Bumble' Lloyd

[MenInG]

David 'Bumble' Lloyd chats about his admiration for Wasim Akram, what made Wasim such a fantastic bowler, his earliest memories of Wasim at Lancashire, his most memorable Wasim performance and more.

 

[Saj]

For me, Wasim Akram will always be one of the greatest cricketers ever.

Yes some don't like him for various reason, but he was one of the reasons that I have loved Pakistan cricket.

He played an attacking, fearless brand of cricket that most of today's cricketers from Pakistan can only dream of playing.

He bowled spells that only he could bowl and won matches that he only he could win.

A legend.

 

[Double Trouble]

I also idolised Wasim as a kid

Had posters in my room, copy of autobiography, even copied his hairstyle which made my family cringe.

It was when he started hanging around with Mumtaz Paan house from Bradford which showed his true colours, that was when i stopped following him completely.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

I think Wasim has received appreciation and love of how bowling AFTER his retirement.

Now that we look back and watch the highlights of his magical performances, it’s seems like a scripted movie where such stuff is only possibility a fairly tale.

 

[Kroll]

Yeh, Bumble loved Wasim there's no doubt about that, the Lancashire connection really cemented the bond those two have.

One of the best cricket players ever. It's so sad he didn't play in the 96 quarter final in Bangalore, the outcome could have been so different had he played.

Pakistan just haven't had any luck playing against India in World Cups in India. InshaAllah it will change this year.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Great interview. Bumble has some amazing stories. Wish he was still commentating on test cricket ,esp the Ashes.

 

[Ab Fan]

Definitely.

Pakistan 's best bowler ever.

 

[pratiktc]

I also idolised Wasim as a kid

Had posters in my room, copy of autobiography, even copied his hairstyle which made my family cringe.

It was when he started hanging around with Mumtaz Paan house from Bradford which showed his true colours, that was when i stopped following him completely.

Can you elaborate on this? I always thought Wasim was one of the big hearted celebrities and would treat awaam well

 

[Saj]

Great interview. Bumble has some amazing stories. Wish he was still commentating on test cricket ,esp the Ashes.

Especially when you look at the standard of some of the current commentators currently on Sky.

 

[volcyz]

So sick of hearing Ricky Pontings rubbish commentary these days

 

[MenInG]

For the life of me I do not understand, why would SKY let go of Bumble?

He apologized etc for this in 2021:

Former England coach David "Bumble" Lloyd has apologised to Azeem Rafiq and the "Asian cricket community" over comments he made.

It comes after Rafiq gave evidence to MPs on his experience of institutional racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club and within the sport as a whole.

https://news.sky.com/story/former-e...mments-about-asian-cricket-community-12470194

and I am sure no one has any bad feelings about this guy.

 

[Double Trouble]

Bumble is true cricket commentator who brings the game to life.

KP & Ponting are as bad as it gets so it’s SKY loss.

PSL should get bumble in for the 2024 leg even if it’s for a short stint.

 

[Kroll]

For the life of me I do not understand, why would SKY let go of Bumble?

He apologized etc for this in 2021:

Former England coach David "Bumble" Lloyd has apologised to Azeem Rafiq and the "Asian cricket community" over comments he made.

It comes after Rafiq gave evidence to MPs on his experience of institutional racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club and within the sport as a whole.

https://news.sky.com/story/former-e...mments-about-asian-cricket-community-12470194

and I am sure no one has any bad feelings about this guy.

Convenient excuse to get rid of older commentators, I'd rather listen to David Gower's commentary over some of the outfit Sky have got now.

 

[MenInG]

Bumble is true cricket commentator who brings the game to life.

KP & Ponting are as bad as it gets so it’s SKY loss.

PSL should get bumble in for the 2024 leg even if it’s for a short stint.

The thing about Bumble was that he had no axe to grind. People like KP have a lot of baggage with them - so you are never sure if their comments are genuine or not.

 

[Saj]

Convenient excuse to get rid of older commentators, I'd rather listen to David Gower's commentary over some of the outfit Sky have got now.

They wanted diversity for the sake of quality.

With Bumble and Mikey Holding no longer commentating on Sky, standards have definitely dropped.

 

[SentOff]

If Wasim Akram had an Australian fielding side - he would've had the most wickets for a fast bowler in any format by the time he retired. He was far better than his stats and he had great stats.

 

[James]

I don’t see why they can’t bring Bumble back on the commentary at Sky Sports. Ditto with Gower. Clearly both have something to bring to the table. Just seems to be no good reason to be keeping them out.

Feels like the “old white man” brand has been culled nowadays. It’s the same with football. All of the pundits we watched growing up are being cleared out. And the quality has suffered.

In terms of the Sky team now, Atherton, Nasser, Ward, Doull, Taylor and Ponting are all very good, but some of the others are dreadful. KP? Eoin Morgan? Dear me. Never thought much of Knight or Butcher either.

 

[Saj]

If Wasim Akram had an Australian fielding side - he would've had the most wickets for a fast bowler in any format by the time he retired. He was far better than his stats and he had great stats.

Very good point.

Pakistan had some awful wicket-keepers and awful fielders, particularly slip-catchers during Wasim's days.

Most of the time he and Waqar had to get the opposition bowled or lbw as they knew that catches would be a rare thing.

 

[Hitman]

The first name should be Sir Garfield Sobers. Wasim, to his credit, has made it to some of the most prestigious All Time XI though.

 

[CrIc_Mystique]

In my hostel days, our walls were plastered with Waz. Then came Waqar...and later Shoaib and Shahid afridi..
and all we had was Sachin....still we enjoyed the 2 W's!
Any way, i regress...but Wasim - what a genius!...there are so many magic moments...
was never anyone like him.....i feel he undachieved as a batsman, was not willing to work harder to improve his batting which had the potential to be about 6X times better....
When he and Waqar were on, to me -my bro's and cousins and several like minded lovers of pace bowling, this was pure diamond crazy ecstasy.
thanks to U-tube and guys like robelinda2 - we get to see his magic so many times.
Add wizard to Waz.....ATG!

 

[Nikhil_cric]

He may be well be in an all time Test XI being the best left armer of all time along with his underrated batting but Bumble goes overboard with his Lancashire bias.

 

[shaz619]

The first name should be Sir Garfield Sobers. Wasim, to his credit, has made it to some of the most prestigious All Time XI though.

He may be well be in an all time Test XI being the best left armer of all time along with his underrated batting but Bumble goes overboard with his Lancashire bias.

Wasim is the first name in any XI’s bowling attack unless you’re a bigoted hater for obvious reasons

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Wasim is the first name in any XI’s bowling attack unless you’re a bigoted hater for obvious reasons

He's 4th for me and makes it primarily for variety

 

[shaz619]

He's 4th for me and makes it primarily for variety

For variety you can pick Mo. Amir or Irfan Pathan as well

 

[Nikhil_cric]

For variety you can pick Mo. Amir or Irfan Pathan as well

There's no way you can Wasim before McGrath or Marshall in a Test bowling attack.

 

[Saj]

He may be well be in an all time Test XI being the best left armer of all time along with his underrated batting but Bumble goes overboard with his Lancashire bias.

I don't think he's going overboard at all.

Wasim is a Lancashire legend for many. He's still adored by Lancastrians.

There still are pictures of Wasim in several parts of Old Trafford and he's always invited back to the club whenever he is in the UK.

 

[Ab Fan]

All time test XI :-

Gavaskar
Hobbs
Bradman
Smith
Sobers
Gilchrist(wkt)
Imran
Marshall
Warne
Steyn
McGrath

 

[Hitman]

Wasim is the first name in any XI’s bowling attack unless you’re a bigoted hater for obvious reasons

The late Richie Benaud, arguably the most respected cricket analyst ever, didn't include Akram in his All Time XI. Neither did Don Bradman. I guess they were bigoted haters as well?

 

[KingKhanWC]

All time test XI :-

Gavaskar
Hobbs
Bradman
Smith
Sobers
Gilchrist(wkt)
Imran
Marshall
Warne
Steyn
McGrath

In an All time XI, you would want to pick a Left Arm pacer. There is nobody even close to Wasim Akram.

Smith? Please dont tell me its Steve Smith?

 

[KingKhanWC]

The late Richie Benaud, arguably the most respected cricket analyst ever, didn't include Akram in his All Time XI. Neither did Don Bradman. I guess they were bigoted haters as well?

Old timers always have nostalgia, please show their all Times XIs?

Akrams power in with the bat at no.8 is just what a team needs someone to get quick runs late in the innings.
Akram was an incredible fielder too.

 

[TheSultan]

Yes Wasim Akram deserves a lot of plaudits. But it also shows how far we’ve regressed that a lot of international pundits have to keep going back to Wasim and Waqar to compliment Pakistan.

I would much prefer a pundit who tells it like it is about the current state of Pakistan cricket - similar to Doull

 

[Bhaijaan]

Not a questionable comment at all. Wasim Akram is a legend and has his fair claim to the status of GOAT along with a few cricketers. A larger than life character , an artist and an icon. One of my favourites as well.

 

[Ab Fan]

In an All time XI, you would want to pick a Left Arm pacer. There is nobody even close to Wasim Akram.

Smith? Please dont tell me its Steve Smith?

But the idea is to pick better test bowlers.

No, it's Dwayne Smith

 

[MenInG]

Wasim Akram and Bumble have had a close relationship over the years, and why wouldn't they? Wasim's performances at Lancs were nothing short of heroic and legendary, so Bumble's admiration is expected.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Wasim's heroic still look impressive till this day.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1739659548212756588

 

[The Bald Eagle]

On this day back in 1990, Wasim scored his maiden century against Australia.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1749320822341226747

 

[greatest]

On this day back in 1990, Wasim scored his maiden century against Australia.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1749320822341226747

Instead of Imran Khan, he deserved to be the '1990 Benson & Hedges Cricketer of the Year.' But then Khan played some crucial innings and lead from the front.