"You can say that Mitchell (Johnson) has been an inspiration for me" : Wahab Riaz

[Abdullah719]

Wahab Riaz speaking after the first match of PSL 2018:

"I do want to make a comeback to the Pakistan team and that is a motivation for me"

"I've been performing in domestic cricket and I think that this is the biggest platform for me to perform on to aim for a comeback"

"You can say that Mitchell (Johnson) has been an inspiration for me as he had the moustache and now I have it too, this is a motivation for me to bowl fast and bowl quick and make my mark in PSL"

 

[babajee]

Age isn’t on his side...

But let’s see if he can force a comeback, Mickey seems to be a fan of him.

 

[shokz1408]

I do like his Mitchell Johnson moustache . Hopefully he can be as fierce with his bowling too.

 

[Abdullah719]

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

I do like his Mitchell Johnson moustache . Hopefully he can be as fierce with his bowling too.

That's taking "Mitch Johnson is an inspiration to me" a bit too far...people might think he meant "Mitch Johnson's (moustache) is an inspiration to me"

 

[shokz1408]

That's taking "Mitch Johnson is an inspiration to me" a bit too far...people might think he meant "Mitch Johnson's (moustache) is an inspiration to me"

Lol it's an interesting change. When I first saw that moustache, I thought it looked damn cool on Mitchell Johnson. Perhaps he believes if he looks like MJ, he can act like him too, it's a make believe world..

 

[Savak]

Wahab Riaz should only play test cricket. He days of playing for Pakistan in ODI and T-20 Cricket are over.

 

[HussainRx8]

Just saw his bowling highlights. Same seam position and inconsistent line and length as always. The only thing different is the hideous mustache.

 

[backfootpunch]

Would like to know thoughts from [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] - do you approve?

 

[AssassinatedDevil]

Bowled well today. Good for him.

 

[Titan24]

Wahab is would be fine in T20s (Where there is one new ball) and Tests (Where the reverse comes into play). One day isnt best suited to him with two new balls.

 

[Mamoon]

Would like to know thoughts from [MENTION=131701]Mamoon[/MENTION] - do you approve?

He is a talker, but growing a mustache will not make him a better bowler. He never was and never will be good enough for Limited Overs cricket.

I would keep him in the Test squad for now, because he can producing an important spell every now and then. However, he is done and dusted in the other formats.

He has been surprisingly consistent in PSL though.

 

[DRsohail]

He is a talker, but growing a mustache will not make him a better bowler. He never was and never will be good enough for Limited Overs cricket.

I would keep him in the Test squad for now, because he can producing an important spell every now and then. However, he is done and dusted in the other formats.

He has been surprisingly consistent in PSL though.

Where no batsman can play fast bowler to save his life.I mean in psl.

 

[Savak]

He is a talker, but growing a mustache will not make him a better bowler. He never was and never will be good enough for Limited Overs cricket.

I would keep him in the Test squad for now, because he can producing an important spell every now and then. However, he is done and dusted in the other formats.

He has been surprisingly consistent in PSL though.

In test cricket the reason why he is much better compared to international ODI and T-20 cricket is the reverse swing factor and because the batsmen don't go after him that much in test cricket. But we shouldn't let his T-20 league exploits fool us into believing that he is needed in the ODI and T-20 squads. One of the major reasons for our CT exploits was him being dropped for more reliable bowlers.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Just saw his bowling highlights. Same seam position and inconsistent line and length as always. The only thing different is the hideous mustache.

exactly... same with Maqsood all aerial shots and no improvements either... These people are just good to perform in domestics and rest on other players failure to force a comeback..

 

[Mamoon]

In test cricket the reason why he is much better compared to international ODI and T-20 cricket is the reverse swing factor and because the batsmen don't go after him that much in test cricket. But we shouldn't let his T-20 league exploits fool us into believing that he is needed in the ODI and T-20 squads. One of the major reasons for our CT exploits was him being dropped for more reliable bowlers.

Bowlers like Wahab, Gul and Junaid have been nullified without reverse-swing in Limited Overs. Gul has never been a good Test bowler, but if he plays in this era, he is more likely to do better in Tests than in Limited Overs.

Pacers who lack conventional skills are getting exposed in Limited Overs now. You need bowlers who can swing the new ball which Wahab, Gul and Junaid cannot.

 

[Mamoon]

Where no batsman can play fast bowler to save his life.I mean in psl.

True, the quality of batting is rubbish in the PSL. Not a single contemporary world class batsman on show. A 40 year old Sangakkara is still the best batsman around.

However, that is to be expected from a league that cannot get hold of batsmen like Kohli, Root, Smith, de Villiers, Williamson, Warner, de Kock, Rohit, Dhawan etc.

 

[Madplayer]

True, the quality of batting is rubbish in the PSL. Not a single contemporary world class batsman on show. A 40 year old Sangakkara is still the best batsman around.

However, that is to be expected from a league that cannot get hold of batsmen like Kohli, Root, Smith, de Villiers, Williamson, Warner, de Kock, Rohit, Dhawan etc.

I think you are being too harsh without considering the fact (elephant in the room) that Dubai & abu dhabi wickets are the worst in the world to play cricket. You may get a better naturally prepared cricketing wicket on Mars than this useless garbage. Sharjah is the only place where wickets are suitable for t20s and when you play too many games there in one season, even the wickets there start becoming rubbish.

Second factor is that notwithstanding the handful of international bowling stars in other leagues, Pakistani bowlers are by and large better than the ones we see in BPL, CPL and on these useless wickets they look even better than the ones in BBL and IPL.

You will see how 190+ scores are made in the initial matches in Sharjah by the same batsmen purely because of better wickets.

 

[Mamoon]

I think you are being too harsh without considering the fact (elephant in the room) that Dubai & abu dhabi wickets are the worst in the world to play cricket. You may get a better naturally prepared cricketing wicket on Mars than this useless garbage. Sharjah is the only place where wickets are suitable for t20s and when you play too many games there in one season, even the wickets there start becoming rubbish.

Second factor is that notwithstanding the handful of international bowling stars in other leagues, Pakistani bowlers are by and large better than the ones we see in BPL, CPL and on these useless wickets they look even better than the ones in BBL and IPL.

You will see how 190+ scores are made in the initial matches in Sharjah by the same batsmen purely because of better wickets.

I understand that, the PSL tends to follow the same trend every year. It is off to a slow start in Dubai, before things pick up in Sharjah. Hopefully, the pitches in Pakistan will be better this time than the abomination that we had in Lahore last year.

However, the quality of pitches notwithstanding, the pool of batsmen is still pretty ordinary. Apart from a few, most of the overseas batsmen are inactive players who are here to collect their pension.

For PSL to grow further, I believe that the franchises need to get hold of some world class batsmen. If that does happen, PSL will be able to distance itself from the BPL and CPL.

 

[dauntless]

He was the best bowler in both the season of psl and bowled well in yesterday's match.In t20s he is very good and he has been performing consistently good in t20s.He should be in t20i squad much better than trundler rumman raees.

 

[Usman Chadda]

I understand that, the PSL tends to follow the same trend every year. It is off to a slow start in Dubai, before things pick up in Sharjah. Hopefully, the pitches in Pakistan will be better this time than the abomination that we had in Lahore last year.

However, the quality of pitches notwithstanding, the pool of batsmen is still pretty ordinary. Apart from a few, most of the overseas batsmen are inactive players who are here to collect their pension.

For PSL to grow further, I believe that the franchises need to get hold of some world class batsmen. If that does happen, PSL will be able to distance itself from the BPL and CPL.

Impossible to do that since all of the guys you mentioned are playing major series. I'm sure they would love to play in the PSL if they had the chance, but the current window is a massive obstacle for the PCB.

We will never get first team Australian and South African players if PCB continues in the current window. New Zealand and England maybe, because their seasons don't overlap at times.

 

[carbon11]

Pathetic moustache

I really don't see the comparison with mitch Johnson and wahab only that both are left handed bowlers

In terms of bowling , athleticism stamina , fielding batting and inflicting terror in batsmen mitch Johnson is light years ahead.

The only thing wahab riaz should do is retire from the game

 

[introvert]

Hair transplant also.

 

[DRsohail]

True, the quality of batting is rubbish in the PSL. Not a single contemporary world class batsman on show. A 40 year old Sangakkara is still the best batsman around.

However, that is to be expected from a league that cannot get hold of batsmen like Kohli, Root, Smith, de Villiers, Williamson, Warner, de Kock, Rohit, Dhawan etc.

What about production..i mean camera work etc..i am getting bored not enjoyable on tensports.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Hair transplant also.

Didn't notice.

Good spot.

Not everyone can be the complete package

 

[backfootpunch]

In test cricket the reason why he is much better compared to international ODI and T-20 cricket is the reverse swing factor and because the batsmen don't go after him that much in test cricket. But we shouldn't let his T-20 league exploits fool us into believing that he is needed in the ODI and T-20 squads. One of the major reasons for our CT exploits was him being dropped for more reliable bowlers.

spot on

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Bowlers like Wahab, Gul and Junaid have been nullified without reverse-swing in Limited Overs. Gul has never been a good Test bowler, but if he plays in this era, he is more likely to do better in Tests than in Limited Overs.

Pacers who lack conventional skills are getting exposed in Limited Overs now. You need bowlers who can swing the new ball which Wahab, Gul and Junaid cannot.

Junaid is seam bowler not a swing bowler. He will still do pretty well in all three formats if given a proper run.

 

[Mamoon]

Junaid is seam bowler not a swing bowler. He will still do pretty well in all three formats if given a proper run.

He is a nothing bowler.

 

[Mamoon]

What about production..i mean camera work etc..i am getting bored not enjoyable on tensports.

It could be better, but we do not have alternatives.

 

[Deewana Mastana]

Seems to have undergone a good few facials to brighten up a little. Now just needs to get a transplant to cover the receeding hair line and he will be back into the 20's.

 

[ExpressPacer]

Could play an important role for Pakistan in the Test format.

As for the ODI's, he needs to be forgotten about completely because 1) He's completely trash and 2) We need to build a new team and at 35 years old, he doesn't fit the bill.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

He is a nothing bowler.

Everyone has a right to his own opinion. Mine is different than yours

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It's all about the moustache - Wahab Riaz <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PSL2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PSL2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IUvPZ?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IUvPZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/bdp19iwAQt">pic.twitter.com/bdp19iwAQt</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/967410634550923264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Misbah-ul-Haq teasing Wahab Riaz over his moustache-stroking wicket-taking celebration <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PSL2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PSL2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IUvPZ?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IUvPZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/jQRWzRtzu3">pic.twitter.com/jQRWzRtzu3</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/972196531506999296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Ummii]

I don't know why but he's getting acting like a stupid now a days.

 

[waleed88]

I've been hearing praise about his yorker bowling ability.... can anyone post a video of that??

 

[Ellipsism]

I've been hearing praise about his yorker bowling ability.... can anyone post a video of that??

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M6S3H2866oM" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Abdul]

I love his new celebration.

 

[Abdul]

A part of me still wants him to do well. Would take him over Amir any day.

 

[Abdullah719]

Again bowling well today after a super spell yesterday. Probably the best pacer in 3 seasons of PSL.

 

[BlueDoritos]

He's been in good form. Let's see how he performs in high pressure games this season, at the moment it looks tough for PZ to finish in the top 4.

 

[AFM]

The handle bar satche has magic powers

 

[dauntless]

Best bowler in all the 3 seasons. Highest wicket taker as well. Enough said. Best of the season

 

[Abdullah719]

His pace is increasing as the tournament goes by

Last two balls today: 150.8kph, 150.9kph

 

[babajee]

He’s the GOAT as long as he isn’t playing international cricket

 

[HuzaifaE]

Fair play, never can question Wahab's heart, but he's just far too self destructive to be relied on in LOIs where batsman don't shudder at his 150 clicks like our domestic batsmen do, they utilize it to clobber him.

What puts Wahab apart is he is the only player we have in tests that bowls at 110%, busts a gut, and produces genuine game changing spells of reverse swing bowling.

 

[Savak]

Fair play, never can question Wahab's heart, but he's just far too self destructive to be relied on in LOIs where batsman don't shudder at his 150 clicks like our domestic batsmen do, they utilize it to clobber him.

What puts Wahab apart is he is the only player we have in tests that bowls at 110%, busts a gut, and produces genuine game changing spells of reverse swing bowling.

Wahab is a test specialist bowler. He is not needed in ODI's and T-20's.