Hard Work Key To Vaas’s 400-Wicket Success
Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 3:12 pm Under Sports News 5 views
COLOMBO:If there were an award for the ‘most consistent fast bowler’ in the history of Sri Lankan cricket, it would definitely go to Chaminda Vaas.
The left-arm seamer on Wednesday became the fourth bowler to take 400 wickets in one-day internationals after retired Pakistani pace duo Wasim Akram (502) and Waqar Younis (416), and compatriot Muttiah Muralitharan (479).
Vaas, 34, achieved the feat during the fourth one-dayer against India here when he had Yuvraj Singh caught by skipper Mahela Jayawardene at short mid-wicket for no score.
“Wasim was a lethal and very good at outsmarting the batsmen. Waqar was entirely different. He bowled fast and used the yorker to good effect,” Vaas recently told “The Island” newspaper.
“Murali has been an absolute champion and never loses his passion for the game. Soon he will go past Wasim’s record as the highest wicket-taker in one-dayers and it will be difficult to surpass him.”
Fast bowlers like to hunt in pairs, but Vaas has been mostly toiling alone since his one-day debut against India in 1994. It is a tribute to his consistency that he has rarely let his team down.
Akram and Younis bowled in tandem, keeping pressure on batsmen from both the ends with their different styles. They were instrumental in making Pakistan a formidable bowling outfit in the 1990s and early 2000s.
“There were a lot of guys who were more talented than me. My game was limited, but I worked harder. You have got to make the most of your talent and nothing comes easy,” said Vaas.
“I have enjoyed my cricket thoroughly. No regrets whatsoever. There have been a few good performances along the way, but for me winning the (1996) World Cup remains the greatest achievement.”
Sri Lanka were often called a two-bowler team because Vaas and off-spinner Muralitharan were the only proven match-winners. The pair kept defying the odds to set up many victories.
Vaas may have just four hauls of five or more wickets in an innings in 322 one-day internationals, but is second to none when it comes to providing crucial breakthroughs with his ability to swing and seam the ball.
His first five-wicket haul came against India at Sharjah in 2000. His victims included ace batsman Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Yuvraj.
India could never recover from the Vaas blows and were shot out for a meagre 54 chasing a 300-run target.
The Sri Lankan’s best came in 2001 against Zimbabwe in Colombo when he became the first bowler to grab eight wickets (8-19), including a hat-trick. His figures remain the best in one-dayers.
He was to claim one more hat-trick, this time at the biggest stage. He stunned Bangladesh when he took three wickets with the first three balls of a match in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.
Vaas may have shed some of his pace of late, but still retains variations to test the batsmen.
|
Loading ...
Sports News top stories
-
EU ministers set for acrimonious talks on relaxing milk quotas
- This Category's RSS Feed
Frankfurt - Only the sky was the limit when Yvonne Buschbaum soared to big heights as one... Read more »
Pakistan Captain Dismisses Claims of YousafLAHORE: Pakistan cricket captain, Shoaib Malik has dismissed claims of his senior colleague... Read more »
India Will Tour Pakistan, BCCI To PCBCricket Board (PCB) breathed a sigh of relief Tuesday after the Indian cricket board assured... Read more »
‘No change in schedule to suit Dhoni’BCCI Vice-President Lalit Modi on Tuesday (Nov 18) said the first cricket Test between England... Read more »
Sania Mirza’s Pak Tour Postponed Due To Lack of SponsorshipIslamabad: Due to lack of sponsors, Indian women tennis ace Sania Mirza’s proposed Pakistan... Read more »
Something to say about this news story?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Headlines from Sports News
- OPEC oil Price continues to Slide
- EU ministers set for acrimonious talks on relaxing milk quotas
- Barack Obama, Democrats Should Rebuild Trust in Government
- Al-Qaida Leader Aazam Assaudi Killed
- India & China will increasingly rely on oil imports by 2030
- Gen Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani Meets Nato Chief
- Govt Aware of Kids Rights Protection: President Asif Ali Zardari
- PM Gilani Condole Demise of Scholar, Filmmaker
- Qazi Hussain Ahmed Urges Govt To End US Cooperation
- Delegations arrive for Russia-Georgia talks in Geneva
Featured Video News
Advertisement
Advertisement
Email Subscription
Advertisement
Latest News In Piture
PESHAWAR: A major Al-Qaida leader... More »
