Return of the Sami

He’s back. From the depths. He’s somehow seized his chance and promptly obliterated Australia’s top order on the morning of the Second Test at Sydney. Okay he only got a three-for but his devastating spell led to Austrlia collapsing for a paltry 127. A bowler, whose promise and potential was for ever going to remain unfulfilled, has catapulted himself back in the limelight.

His stats never really show the devastating pace bowler that he is or could ever be. His bowling average of 51 is frankly, embarassing. He’s only ever had two five wickets hauls in his international career and takes 86 balls before he gets a wicket.

If we compare those stats with Umar Gul, who has played roughly the same number of tests as him (and is not really a great fast bolwer) we see just what a complete no hoper Sami has been. Gul has a bowling average of 31, whilst he has in his 24 test matches taken four wickets or more on ten occasions compared to Sami’s feeble five. Gul also takes just 55 balls to get a wicket. You see the problem? Sami for all his posturing just doesn’t deliver.

Yet, at 28 this could just be the right time in his career to truly blossom, not just for himself but for Pakistan’s burgeoning bowling attack.

With Asif spearheading our pace attack, Mohammad Aamer playing beyond his years and Umar Gul providing the back up as second change, Sami could be the missing piece in our bowling jigsaw. Let’s not forget that Mohammad Talha and Sohail Khan are waiting in the wings and all of a sudden the larder does not seem so bare after all.