Would Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis have had shorter careers and struggled for longevity in all formats if they had access to T20 leagues in their era?

[Savak]

Would they have achieved 400-500 wickets in test, odi and T20 Cricket if they were playing all the major T20 leagues available to them ie ILT20, Big Bash, BPL, PSL, IPL, Vitality Blast, Hundred, MLC T20 year in year out?

We are seeing a lot of the current pacers resorting to work load management and giving up Test Cricket to maximize their longevity

 

[topspin]

I guess it depends on what sources you use

 

[The Bald Eagle]

I think Wasim Akram wouldn't have struggled much as he already played a lot of matches in his career and his bowling style was not strenuous like Bumrah too.

 

[pratiktc]

Yes. In non central contract era players should and did prioritize the avenues where they earn most (county and ODIs).

Both Wasim and Waqar regularly averaged 25+ odis per year and most of them meaningless matches.

In a more professional era and in a better team setup, prize assets like Wasim and Waqar would likely have been handled like Steyn and Morkel were. They would have played 1-2 main T20 leagues for $ and would have been kept on ice for Test series while only playing marquee ODIs

 

[Mamoon]

Waqar would have been half the bowler in this era with all the scrutiny on ball-tampering and of course the two new balls rule in ODIs.

In addition, both Wasim and Waqar have a very high percentage of tailender wickets because in the 90’s, all bowlers were mugs with the bat.

 

[Vikram1989]

I think Wasim Akram wouldn't have struggled much as he already played a lot of matches in his career and his bowling style was not strenuous like Bumrah too.

Akram suffered from diabetes since 94/95.he may have played only highest 2 profitable leagues or for safety purposes including psl .definitely he will become like ultra premium brand such as Bumrah and participated only in marquee series. Akram happily skipped aus test as he having cold.Same goes for waqar.but waqar was never threatening like Akram especially after 95 apart from 1 or 2 series. So he is a tier below Akram.

 

[Savak]

Akram suffered from diabetes since 94/95.he may have played only highest 2 profitable leagues or for safety purposes including psl .definitely he will become like ultra premium brand such as Bumrah and participated only in marquee series. Akram happily skipped aus test as he having cold.Same goes for waqar.but waqar was never threatening like Akram especially after 95 apart from 1 or 2 series. So he is a tier below Akram.

According to Wasim's autobiography, he was diagnosed with Diabetes around November 1997 but the full extent of the insulin started taking a toll on his body from the middle of 1998 onwards where he struggled to bowl long spells and lost some pace.

 

[Greenstorm]

Yes, they would have burnt out within 4-5 years just like Hassan Ali, Amir, Shaheen and Naseem. Exhaustion from T20 leagues is both physical and mental not to mention the negative impact it has on bowling skills.

 

[Vikram1989]

According to Wasim's autobiography, he was diagnosed with Diabetes around November 1997 but the full extent of the insulin started taking a toll on his body from the middle of 1998 onwards where he struggled to bowl long spells and lost some pace.

I think in his autobiography he said he was feeling the effects of diabetes much earlier but he was negligent to get it diagnosed just like a typical desi guy.But he is lot focused on commercial aspects, so he will be the first guy to skip the matches.

 

[BouncerGuy]

I think it might have happened in today's era, not inthe 90s. Too many leagues would have definitely affected their longevity.

 

[Major]

That depends, if they were doing well in T20.

No bower would've opted for long test/odi career if they were making good and easy money by bowling 4 overs in t20 cricket.

But at the same time, it is also important to determine whether they would had have the same impact in t20 cricket. Anderson and Broad played in an era where T20 cricket existed but because they were not as good in T20 cricket as they were in Test, so they continued with the longer format.

Yasir Arafat, the first ever T20 mercenary, was desperate for test and odi representation, which he never got so was forced to go the T20 route. Same for Dirk Nannes.

So if Akram was as good in T20 cricket as he was in Test and Odi, and more t20 games were being played, money being offered and name being made in that format, he would had gone for it.

The 90s and 2010s onwards were a different time in cricket.

 

[pratiktc]

Waqar would have been half the bowler in this era with all the scrutiny on ball-tampering and of course the two new balls rule in ODIs.

In addition, both Wasim and Waqar have a very high percentage of tailender wickets because in the 90’s, all bowlers were mugs with the bat.

Very true. Waqar with only high pace might never have sustained a white ball career at highest level also because batters would be using it and flipping him behind square with scoops/ramps. He would have become another BBL/Hundred/CPL mercenary in tier 2 leagues

 

[DeadlyVenom]

These threads usually go the same way and end up in Indians trying to tear Pakistani legacy by making up hypothetical and fake scenarios about what could have happened.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

3 format workload is no joke. A heavy FC workload is not as damaging as constantly switching from T20 leagues to FC bowling and back.

That's why modern bowlers get injured a lot more.

You can see that in 2 specific examples - Shami and Hazlewood. When their T20 workloads started spiking around 2019-2020, their injury rate started increasing consistently.

Bishop has offered a theory as to why it happens. He said that video analysis revealed to the West Indies quicks of his time that their bowling actions were biomechanically different for both ODI's and Tests. They were trying to cramp batsmen for room in ODIs and their actions tended to change when they switched from Tests to ODIs.

It's even harder on bowlers now as they have to constantly look for variations in T20 cricket and then go play Test cricket with a consistent action to hit a line and length.

Contrasting stresses and strains probably lead to more injuries.

Also, many bowlers have in the past have admitted to cutting down on pace while playing county etc.

You can't do that in leagues where a lot more is at stake.

So, if Wasim and Waqar did choose to play a lot of league cricket , it's almost guaranteed their longevity would've taken a beating.

 

[Savak]

3 format workload is no joke. A heavy FC workload is not as damaging as constantly switching from T20 leagues to FC bowling and back.

That's why modern bowlers get injured a lot more.

You can see that in 2 specific examples - Shami and Hazlewood. When their T20 workloads started spiking around 2019-2020, their injury rate started increasing consistently.

Bishop has offered a theory as to why it happens. He said that video analysis revealed to the West Indies quicks of his time that their bowling actions were biomechanically different for both ODI's and Tests. They were trying to cramp batsmen for room in ODIs and their actions tended to change when they switched from Tests to ODIs.

It's even harder on bowlers now as they have to constantly look for variations in T20 cricket and then go play Test cricket with a consistent action to hit a line and length.

Contrasting stresses and strains probably lead to more injuries.

Also, many bowlers have in the past have admitted to cutting down on pace while playing county etc.

You can't do that in leagues where a lot more is at stake.

So, if Wasim and Waqar did choose to play a lot of league cricket , it's almost guaranteed their longevity would've taken a beating.

Given the money available in the leagues, they would definitely have retired from Test Cricket much earlier.

Wasim gave up test cricket in 2001 as he realized his body could not cope with the demands of test cricket

 

[guard]

These threads usually go the same way and end up in Indians trying to tear Pakistani legacy by making up hypothetical and fake scenarios about what could have happened.

Its so predictable..