Sami becomes the third fastest pacer of recent times!

warrioryohannan · 06-04-2003, 12:45 PM

Sami explodes with balls of fire
Eddie Smith - 6 April 2003

Mohammed Sami of Pakistan clocked 156.4km/h in Thursday's game against Zimbabwe to become the third fastest bowler in recent times.

In the absence of enduring stars like Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram, and the hundred-miles-per-hour man Shoaib Akhtar, Sami seems to have grabbed the bull by the horns and decided that he wants the mantle not only as the spearhead of Pakistan's pace battery but also perhaps as the world's fastest bowler.

Sami's 156.4km/h leapfrogs him into third place in the pace race and signals intent to both Lee and Shoaib of his impending presence.

Mohammed Sami's career has previously been one of unfulfilled promise, as he has threatened to ignite for some time but has failed to live up to expectation.

Before his debut, Sami had been described as "Very fast and very hostile." In 2000, about the then 18-years-old, Wasim Akram said that he was at least as fast as Shoaib and that he was happy for him to play Test cricket.

It was almost two years ago to the day that Sami, a skinny 20-year-old fired up the guns with a 147.5km/h thunderbolt against Sri Lanka. Sami had previously clocked 143km/h on his debut against New Zealand but it was this 90mph plus delivery which signalled to many that he had arrived as a genuine speedster and would soon be in the express category.

The past two years have seen Sami's speeds all but stall as he has hovered around the mid-140s (km/h) with a top speed confirmed at 149.7km/h. The 150km/h-plus deliveries have proved elusive as he has sat on the edge of the 'express paceman's' club watching other emerging speed demons pass him by.

Some have proposed that the 22-year-old has been living in the shadow of established stalwarts for too long and that his potential speed would only come to fruition with the confidence which results from being handed the reigns as a leader of the attack. Others have stated that his slight frame would physically not allow him to bowl above the 150km/h mark.

Sami has now blasted the latter train of thought out of the water whilst the former looks to be more on the money.

In his first five-over spell, Sami bowled nine balls exceeding the 150km/h benchmark. Five of them went well beyond it at 152km/h or above, culminating with the 156.4km/h delivery, the first ball of his fifth over. This speed has been verified by the second radar which captured the ball's velocity slightly later in its flight path at 155.7km/h. Thanks once again goes to Warren Brennan and the crew at BBG for their continued support and professionalism with regards the confirmation of bowling speeds.

The magnitude of Mohammed Sami's new found pace can only be comprehended when it is realized that he is the only bowler ever to be recorded initially breaking the 150km/h barrier and then pushing past 155km/h within the same match. That kind of jump is unheralded.

Sami followed up his Herculean performance with 10 balls registering above 149km/h against Sri Lanka. A remarkable effort considering the high temperature in Sharjah and the unusual strain that his body underwent the previous day.

To try and put one's finger on the physical modifications which have given birth to Sami's fresh pace would be to analyse Sami's bodily metamorphosis and his action adjustments. He has no doubt added a bit of meat to his light bones and a few yards of pace to his diminutive run-up. Add to this a demeanour bristling with confidence and the result is an explosive burst which propels the ball at breakneck speeds.

Pakistan's cricket fans the world over are left wondering what might have been, had the kid from Karachi been given the opportunity to partner Shoaib in a twin pace assault at the recently completed World Cup. In an event where only four of the world's pacers bettered 150km/h, it would have been a sight to behold having the fast men charging in and giving the batsmen no respite.

The temptation for the Pakistan selectors now would be to rush back Shoaib and see just what this pairing are capable of. If it is anything even remotely close to what Waqar and Wasim were accomplishing back in their halcyon days, then the world's batsmen may be in for a few sleepless nights as they scramble to send off order forms for the finest in new-fangled body armour

Kiwi · 06-04-2003, 01:00 PM

I would have thought Bond would have been as fast as that.

I sometime doubt the speeds of the bowlers because they bowling meter changes depending in what country you are in. ie. Bond stuggles to hit the 145 mark in NZ but in SA he was getting 155 just as easy.

Tim · 06-04-2003, 02:54 PM

Well to me it looks as though Sami could be the 3rd fastest now. Although the speed camera they use in Sharjah has come under suspicion before.

marc71178 · 06-04-2003, 04:42 PM

Without control, speed is nothing.

krkode · 06-04-2003, 04:55 PM

Yes, Marc!

I once remember, India v Pakistan, Sami bowled 3 scorching deliveries, all wide. Even a keeper like Moin Khan couldn't lay a finger on them. 0 balls, 15 runs. :P

warrioryohannan · 06-04-2003, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by krkode
Yes, Marc!

I once remember, India v Pakistan, Sami bowled 3 scorching deliveries, all wide. Even a keeper like Moin Khan couldn't lay a finger on them. 0 balls, 15 runs. :P

Sami haven't played a single match against India!

I think Sami has bowled well in this tour, he will only get better with experiance, something whch was impossible before as he used to be just a tourists in Pakiatan team untill the Sharjah tour!

Tim · 06-04-2003, 05:09 PM

That would be correct because Sami made his debut for Pakistan in NZ during the 2001 season & Pakistan have not played India in a proper series since 1999 have they?

excluding World Cup, ICC Trophy matches etc.

Rik · 06-04-2003, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tim
That would be correct because Sami made his debut for Pakistan in NZ during the 2001 season & Pakistan have not played India in a proper series since 1999 have they?

excluding World Cup, ICC Trophy matches etc.

Politicial issues. The Indian government refuse to let them play. Recently pulled India out of a proposed tour of Pakistan.

krkode · 06-04-2003, 05:44 PM

Woops! My bad. Must've been some other young, really fast, Pakistani bowler :P

I also remember, he took a couple of stumps in that match...3/53 or something like that off some 7 overs...

Tim · 06-04-2003, 08:48 PM

Thanks for the info Rik but im well aware of why India & Pakistan haven't played a series for awhile now.

Choora · 06-04-2003, 11:00 PM

I think Sami can become a better bowler than Akhter because Sami is more serious about the game. He's getting good pace and he might even break Akhter's record of fastest delivery, but i think he shouldn't get obsessed with speed and should try to bowl fast with a good line!

Rik · 07-04-2003, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tim
Thanks for the info Rik but im well aware of why India & Pakistan haven't played a series for awhile now.

Rhetorical question?

06-04-2003, 12:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
warrioryohannan U19 Cricketer Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 497	Sami becomes the third fastest pacer of recent times! Sami explodes with balls of fire Eddie Smith - 6 April 2003 Mohammed Sami of Pakistan clocked 156.4km/h in Thursday's game against Zimbabwe to become the third fastest bowler in recent times. In the absence of enduring stars like Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram, and the hundred-miles-per-hour man Shoaib Akhtar, Sami seems to have grabbed the bull by the horns and decided that he wants the mantle not only as the spearhead of Pakistan's pace battery but also perhaps as the world's fastest bowler. Sami's 156.4km/h leapfrogs him into third place in the pace race and signals intent to both Lee and Shoaib of his impending presence. Mohammed Sami's career has previously been one of unfulfilled promise, as he has threatened to ignite for some time but has failed to live up to expectation. Before his debut, Sami had been described as "Very fast and very hostile." In 2000, about the then 18-years-old, Wasim Akram said that he was at least as fast as Shoaib and that he was happy for him to play Test cricket. It was almost two years ago to the day that Sami, a skinny 20-year-old fired up the guns with a 147.5km/h thunderbolt against Sri Lanka. Sami had previously clocked 143km/h on his debut against New Zealand but it was this 90mph plus delivery which signalled to many that he had arrived as a genuine speedster and would soon be in the express category. The past two years have seen Sami's speeds all but stall as he has hovered around the mid-140s (km/h) with a top speed confirmed at 149.7km/h. The 150km/h-plus deliveries have proved elusive as he has sat on the edge of the 'express paceman's' club watching other emerging speed demons pass him by. Some have proposed that the 22-year-old has been living in the shadow of established stalwarts for too long and that his potential speed would only come to fruition with the confidence which results from being handed the reigns as a leader of the attack. Others have stated that his slight frame would physically not allow him to bowl above the 150km/h mark. Sami has now blasted the latter train of thought out of the water whilst the former looks to be more on the money. In his first five-over spell, Sami bowled nine balls exceeding the 150km/h benchmark. Five of them went well beyond it at 152km/h or above, culminating with the 156.4km/h delivery, the first ball of his fifth over. This speed has been verified by the second radar which captured the ball's velocity slightly later in its flight path at 155.7km/h. Thanks once again goes to Warren Brennan and the crew at BBG for their continued support and professionalism with regards the confirmation of bowling speeds. The magnitude of Mohammed Sami's new found pace can only be comprehended when it is realized that he is the only bowler ever to be recorded initially breaking the 150km/h barrier and then pushing past 155km/h within the same match. That kind of jump is unheralded. Sami followed up his Herculean performance with 10 balls registering above 149km/h against Sri Lanka. A remarkable effort considering the high temperature in Sharjah and the unusual strain that his body underwent the previous day. To try and put one's finger on the physical modifications which have given birth to Sami's fresh pace would be to analyse Sami's bodily metamorphosis and his action adjustments. He has no doubt added a bit of meat to his light bones and a few yards of pace to his diminutive run-up. Add to this a demeanour bristling with confidence and the result is an explosive burst which propels the ball at breakneck speeds. Pakistan's cricket fans the world over are left wondering what might have been, had the kid from Karachi been given the opportunity to partner Shoaib in a twin pace assault at the recently completed World Cup. In an event where only four of the world's pacers bettered 150km/h, it would have been a sight to behold having the fast men charging in and giving the batsmen no respite. The temptation for the Pakistan selectors now would be to rush back Shoaib and see just what this pairing are capable of. If it is anything even remotely close to what Waqar and Wasim were accomplishing back in their halcyon days, then the world's batsmen may be in for a few sleepless nights as they scramble to send off order forms for the finest in new-fangled body armour

06-04-2003, 04:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
marc71178 Eyes not spreadsheets Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: England Posts: 56,346	Without control, speed is nothing. __________________ marc71178 - President and founding member of AAAS - we don't only appreciate when he does well, but also when he's not quite so good! Anyone want to join the Society? Beware the evils of Kit-Kats - they're immoral apparently.

06-04-2003, 11:00 PM	#11 (permalink)
Choora State Regular Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Tamil Nadu Posts: 964	I think Sami can become a better bowler than Akhter because Sami is more serious about the game. He's getting good pace and he might even break Akhter's record of fastest delivery, but i think he shouldn't get obsessed with speed and should try to bowl fast with a good line! __________________ ------------------------------------

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06-04-2003, 01:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
Kiwi State Vice-Captain Join Date: May 2002 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,079	I would have thought Bond would have been as fast as that. I sometime doubt the speeds of the bowlers because they bowling meter changes depending in what country you are in. ie. Bond stuggles to hit the 145 mark in NZ but in SA he was getting 155 just as easy.

06-04-2003, 02:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
Tim Cricketer Of The Year Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Auckland Posts: 7,888	Well to me it looks as though Sami could be the 3rd fastest now. Although the speed camera they use in Sharjah has come under suspicion before.

06-04-2003, 04:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
krkode State Captain Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: USA Posts: 1,781	Yes, Marc! I once remember, India v Pakistan, Sami bowled 3 scorching deliveries, all wide. Even a keeper like Moin Khan couldn't lay a finger on them. 0 balls, 15 runs. :P

06-04-2003, 05:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tim Cricketer Of The Year Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Auckland Posts: 7,888	That would be correct because Sami made his debut for Pakistan in NZ during the 2001 season & Pakistan have not played India in a proper series since 1999 have they? excluding World Cup, ICC Trophy matches etc.

06-04-2003, 05:44 PM	#9 (permalink)
krkode State Captain Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: USA Posts: 1,781	Woops! My bad. Must've been some other young, really fast, Pakistani bowler :P I also remember, he took a couple of stumps in that match...3/53 or something like that off some 7 overs...

06-04-2003, 08:48 PM	#10 (permalink)
Tim Cricketer Of The Year Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Auckland Posts: 7,888	Thanks for the info Rik but im well aware of why India & Pakistan haven't played a series for awhile now.

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