Fast bowling has been associated with Pakistan. It is a country every cricketer looks up to as far as bowling is concerned. Former England captain Michael Atherton, in an interview with PCB’s media team, explained why Pakistan produce such quality bowlers.
Michael Atherton represented England from 1989 to 2001. During this time, he faced some of the finest Pakistan bowlers under the likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq, and Mushtaq Ahmed. The former captain believes Pakistan had some great bowlers, and in recent times their strength lies in their wicket taking bowlers.
“When I played against them, they had some great bowlers in particular. The last attack that I played against on my tour here of 2000, they had Wasim and Waqar, then Mushtaq and Saqlain. Now you have got four great match winning bowlers there.
“Pakistan, naturally, has produced great batsmen, but I think in recent times, the strength and depth of their bowling and particularly the kind of wicket taking bowlers. Pace bowlers and mystery spinners have set them apart,” Atherton stated.
“I don’t know why Pakistan particularly produces great bowlers. I suspect it has something to do with the relative lack of infrastructure. To produce lots and lots of great batsmen, you’ve got to have facilities and infrastructure and coaches and a very formal system. Still, I think bowlers can spring and emerge from anywhere, and probably that’s why Pakistan produces so many.”
Atherton scored over 7700 runs in Test and 1791 in ODIs.
