South African opening bowler Shaun Pollock dismissed on Wednesday persistent suggestions that he has slowed dramatically, claiming instead that he was never particularly quick.
With Makhaya Ntini maturing rapidly and with the emergence of Andre Nel this series as a genuine pace bowler, there has been speculation that Pollock should relinquish his hold on the new ball.
”It’s never been discussed within the team,” said Pollock after nets at Centurion Park in preparation for the final Test against the West Indies, which starts on Friday.
”But it’s all about partnerships. It’s how bowlers work together. I certainly don’t have a problem though if they want to give Andre the new ball.”
Pollock made his Test debut at Centurion Park in 1995 against England, memorably striking Michael Atherton on the helmet during a fiery spell.
Nine seasons later, Pollock is not that sure the spell was particularly fiery.
”I think it’s a bit of a fallacy that I was some sort of tearaway fast bowler,” explained Pollock. ”I don’t think I was actually ever that fast. I did hit batsmen but that was probably because I was new on the scene and I was quite accurate.”
Regardless of whether he has dropped a yard of pace or not, Pollock remains the country’s most consistent bowler. After capturing a comparatively measly three wickets at Newlands, Pollock moved to within nine wickets of Allan Donald’s South African record of 330 Test wickets.
”In a way it will be a bit sad to break Allan’s record but it is something I’m aiming to achieve,” said Pollock.
”You can’t really compare us though. Allan was a strike bowler and I’m probably more of an all-rounder.”
Pollock, who has captured 321 wickets in 79 Tests, is the third-ranked bowler in the world behind Muttiah Muralitharan and Shoaib Akhtar. — Sapa