Waqar Younis
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1992
The man who really put the reverse into swing. Waqar Younis bucked the 1980s trend of pitching fast and short by pitching fast and full. Not an obvious recipe for success until you factor in prodigious late inswing, which was designed to smash into the base of leg stump or the batsman's toes. In his youth, he was one of the fastest ever. Waqar's surging run was a glorious sight - and an incredible strain on his body. His method of aiming for the stumps rather than the batsman earned him the best strike rate of any bowler with over 200 Test wickets. It could have been better: back injuries cut short his prime, but determination has always resurrected him, although he was easily pushed over the line that divides aggression and intimidation. He looked to have been put out to pasture by the end of 2000, but before long he had been appointed captain for the 2001 tour to England. Initial results suggested that this was an inspired move, but in October 2002 he was at the helm as Pakistan crumbled to 59 and 53 all out against Australia in Sharjah. He managed to retain the job for the World Cup, but a disastrous tournament - Pakistan beat only Holland and Namibia - meant an unceremonious exit. Unable to force his way back into a side building for the future, he announced his retirement in April 2004. As a batsman, lusty blows were his staple, but Waqar batted with the air of a man who thinks he could have done better.
- Full name : Waqar Younis Maitla
- Born : November 16, 1971, Vehari, Punjab
- Batting style : Right-hand bat
- Bowling style : Right-arm fast
- Test debut : Pakistan v India at Karachi - Nov 15-20, 1989
- Last Test : South Africa v Pakistan at Cape Town - Jan 2-5, 2003
- ODI debut : Pakistan v West Indies at Sharjah - Oct 14, 1989
- Last ODI : Zimbabwe v Pakistan at Bulawayo - Mar 4, 2003
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