No team can win a Test match without taking 20 wickets of opposition team. Sometime taking all the 20 wickets on a batting -friendly pitches become impossible despite bowlers’ hard work. But on the other hand on some occasions a Test match is finished inside three days in unplayable conditions for the batsmen.
Pacers and spinners both play their role on their favourable circumstances but in Asian conditions, mostly spinners have dominated.
Spinners are the unsung heroes of cricket, especially in Test matches played on the diverse and often challenging pitches of Asia. The pitches here are known for their unique characteristics, including lower bounce and significant turn, which tend to favor spin bowlers.
Unlike the fast and bouncy pitches of Australia, New Zealand or South Africa, the Asian conditions reward the subtlety and guile which bring spinners into the game. In countries like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, the dry and dusty nature of the pitches makes them more prone to wear and tear as the match progresses.
This deterioration creates rough patches, which spinners can exploit to get the ball to deviate sharply, making life difficult for even the most seasoned batsmen.
Spinners play a crucial role not only in taking wickets but also in controlling the flow of the game. They can maintain a tight line and length, creating pressure and forcing the batsmen into mistakes. This ability to keep the run-rate in check while being potent attacking options makes them indispensable in Test cricket, particularly in the subcontinent.
Moreover spinners bring variety and unpredictability to a bowling attack. The combination of off-spin, leg-spin, and variations like the googly or carom-ball adds an extra dimension, keeping the batsmen constantly guessing.
In the ongoing two-Test series against the West Indies, Pakistan secured a victory over tourists by 127 runs in the first Test in Multan, taking a 1-0 lead.
Off-spinner Sajid Khan continued his exceptional performance by taking 9 wickets in the Test and received Man-of-the-Match reward.
During the first Test in Multan, Sajid Khan made history by claiming his 50th Test wicket in his just 11th match. Sajid became the third fastest bowlers from Pakistan to achieve the milestone.
The record for the fastest to reach the mark belongs to leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who achieved it in only nine matches. Other notable bowlers on the list include Waqar Younis, Shabbir Ahmed, Mohammad Asif, and Mohammad Abbas, who are tied for second place with 10 matches.
Till the first Test against West Indies, Sajid Khan played 11 Tests taken 53 wickets, averaging 27.73. In a short time, he has taken four five wickets and two 10 wickets hauls.
Sajid’s performance has been a testament to his skill and consistency, and he has now firmly established himself as a bowler to reckon with on the international stage. He delivered an impressive spell during the Multan Test, taking 5-50 runs and finishing with match figures of 9-115. Left-arm spinner Noman Ali also supported him with five wickets to help bundle out the visitors for just 137 runs.
The selection panel for Pakistan had high expectations from Sajid when Pakistan were folded for 230 in their first innings on the second day.
Experienced Sajid understands that to maintain the potency of his reputation, he must back up the talk with tangible results. His exuberant celebrations have ruffled a few players in the England camp, and his success must be sustained through regular wicket-taking.
During the match against the West Indies Sajid took just seven balls to claim his first wicket, which he later described as “an off-spinner’s dream wicket.” By flighting the ball outside off stump, he lured Mikyle Louis into a drive, sneaking the ball through the gap and rattling the stumps.
Just eleven balls later, Sajid had already taken four wickets, leaving the West Indies’ top-order in disarray. Regardless of the pitch conditions, this performance was impressive; it took the West Indies’ collective spin attack nearly 62 overs to match what Sajid accomplished in just 17 deliveries.
In contrast, the West Indies opted for a more conservative approach, avoiding spin from both ends and instead giving Jayden Seales a longer spell. This decision likely stems from Seales’ impressive performances in both innings, which surpassed the efforts of any Pakistani seamer in these conditions.
However, the skill of taking wickets with spin using the new ball is not as straightforward as Sajid makes it appear. “As an off-spinner, my bowling style is somewhat complex, and I find it challenging to introduce too many new elements,” remarked Sajid Khan regarding his technique.
Sajid has also enhanced his bowling repertoire. He positions himself wider of the crease to capitalise on footmarks when necessary or to alter the angle and unsettle the batsman. Although he acknowledges that his bowling action is “difficult,” it enables him to vary the pace and trajectory without allowing batsmen to easily read his deliveries, which he considers crucial to his performance.
“My coaches have consistently pointed out that my strength lies in my sleight of hand. Batsmen struggle to decipher my flight and variations in pace due to the rapid movement of my front arm—even during practice sessions against our own players,” Sajid explained.
For now, Sajid continues to deliver consistently, showing no signs of losing respect for his craft or diminishing his ambition.
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