Five hundred big ones

So — what does it take to be the greatest ODI bowler of all time, as voted by Wisden? Well — you have to come from Pakistan, and your name has to be Wasim Akram, and if you fit these two requirements you’re going to be in with a good shot.

The great man became the first cricketer ever to get 500 ODI wickets yesterday at Paarl, against a game but outclassed Holland side, who if nothing else have played their hearts out at this World Cup

Considering the fact that the only other bowler even to have more than 400 wickets is the similarly aged Waqar Younis, who is most unlikely to go on to 500, it seems unlikely that Wasim’s feat will be repeated for a very long time. In fact — the only player in the world who might have a shot at getting it within the next few years is Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan, who currently stands on 314, but to do so he will need to play for many years yet, and keep up his good form.

Which kinda puts Wasim’s landmark into perspective. To be fair, he’s been playing ODI’s since 1984 — can you believe that? 20 years on and he’s still swinging it a mile and causing many a batsman unimaginable terror. Brilliant, man.

And so the records at this World Cup continue to tumble, although most the tumbling at Paarl came from Holland, who despite trying hard, combined with a continuation of Pakistani batting woes, were unable to ”pull a Kenya” and uproot the ’92 champions (which incidentally Wasim captained, in what he describes as the highlight of his cricketing career).

Despite the feats of Wasim, the Pakistanis are looking woeful, to be very, very kind. They managed 253/9 in their fifty overs, but only thanks to a Yusouf Youhana 50 which he’s been looking for all tournament. It was definitely a 300-plus wicket on a good track against a weak bowling attack, but the Pakistanis looked weak, out of sorts, and still as uncohesive a cricketing unit as I have ever seen. There was no determination about them, and the same ridiculous strokes keep getting them out which means they are not learning, and despite Wasim’s good bowling, combined with some fiery stuff from Shoaib, they aren’t looking like going anywhere, least of all to the Super Sixes.

But cricket is — if nothing else — the hardest sport to bet on, as things just never go the way you expect them to. Last year Pakistan were pasted every which way by the South Africans, apart from that blip in the second game of the ODI series when they absolutely murdered the Proteas in one of the finest exhibitions of ODI cricket I have seen. What this means is that they have the ability to do it — as we all know — but when they’re going to do it is anyone’s guess.

But they’re going to have to find that groove real quick, or face elimination from the tournament. Their Big Moment is coming up on Saturday when they face India at Centurion, and they will have to win that to even have a chance of going through, and even if they do it isn’t guaranteed, as they still have a tough one against Zimbabwe after that.

But they just don’t look like winning anything against class opposition at the moment, but having said that neither is India, whose very big day is on Wednesday in a day/night clash in Durban against England. England’s confidence is running high, propelled by Jimmy Anderson who is swinging it more than a Pinelands housewife, while India have ”homeground” advantage courtesy of the dense Indian population of Durbs.

The Kingsmead wicket is a good batting track, although the humidity assists swing, so it could be a good one between Sachin and Anderson, who has finally come through to give England something of a hero. The last time they had a hero was Beefy Botham, but until folks like Vaughn and Anderson came along there hadn’t been much to cheer in the sheer talent stakes. It’s all very well being Gritty and Determined (Hussain) or Fiery and Tall (Caddick), but you need the Tendulkars, Wasims, Haydens and McGraths to really give you a chance. South Africa finally got one in the shape of Jacques Kallis (they had another in the shape of Paul Adams but chose to ignore the fact, didn’t they Omar?), then you get Muralitharan, Lara, Harbhajan and Lee, to name a few.

So the game today is shaping up for a cracker, although some of the big games have been most disappointing so far. But with a mad crowd, heat fever, lights and the importance of the game you would expect it to produce something. Look out for the heroes, because one or two of them are going to win the game for their country, and no doubt propel their team into the Super Sixes, while the other will most likely fall out of the competition, or be under serious threat to do so.

As for Pakistan — Wasim isn’t going to get another 500 anytime soon, and the batsmen are the ones at whom the accusing finger is pointing at the moment. I suspect (as I predicted before the tournament) they will be the big name going home, but I would be a bold man to place all my future earnings on it, the way this tournament is going.

But ultimately Wasim can go home a happy man no matter what. And for the remaining years of his life people will point to him in the supermarket, and inform their children of precisely whom the first man to take 500 ODI wickets was: Wasim.

Cheers

The Twelfth Man