sport news The godfather of reverse-swing Sarfraz Nawaz backs England to make the most of ... trends now
Sarfraz Nawaz, the godfather of reverse-swing, says England can make good use of one of cricket’s most lethal skills as they embark on their historic series in Pakistan.
Sarfraz, who took 177 wickets in 55 Tests between 1969 and 1984, learned the art on pitches at home, then passed it on to Imran Khan. After Imran bequeathed it to Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, the pair ran riot in England in 1992 – prompting accusations from English batters that they had picked the seam.
But the skill has since gone global, and Sarfraz believes it could come into play in the later stages of the three Tests in Rawalpindi, Multan and Karachi – especially in the drier conditions expected at the last two venues.
Sarfraz Nawaz (pictured above) was the godfather of reverse-swing bowling in Test cricket
‘I think the English players understand how to swing the old ball,’ Sarfraz told Sportsmail. ‘They all do it well. They can conventionally swing the new ball, but they know how to get the old ball to reverse too.’
Reverse-swing usually comes into play around the 50-over mark, give or take. Assuming one side of the ball has been shined and the other allowed to become rough, it can begin to swing in the opposite direction, giving bowlers a vital weapon on otherwise heartless surfaces.
Ben Stokes has already identified himself as England’s likeliest exponent on this trip, while Jimmy Anderson revealed he had been practising with the old ball during the training camp in the UAE. Whatever happens over the next few weeks, patience will be key.
‘On the first day, it doesn’t start quickly because the surface on the pitch is not too dry and the outfield is watery,’ said Sarfraz. ‘Third, fourth, fifth days – it quickly reverses and gets more effective.’
England captain Ben Stokes thinks he could use reverse-swing to his benefit in Pakistan
James Anderson has also been practicing the skill for the three-match Test series
Sarfraz, who turns 74 on Thursday, knows what he’s talking about, having produced what Wisden called ‘one of
