An ordinary day in the office for Zaheer
SHIMOGA: Kraigg Brathwaite slices the bat in the air before bringing it down to execute a shot, like Ramnaresh Sarwan used to, keeping swing bowlers in the business. But behind the anomalous method is the grit to stay put. That’s what he did, taking 284 minutes to score 82 runs.
Zaheer Khan, ready to taste first-class cricket after 10 months, almost had Brathwaite with his first ball or so it seemed as he squared Brathwate up. That was it. For the next 15.5 overs he bowled on the day, it never seemed like Zaheer would strike.
THE RUN-UP
With Zaheer, a lot boils down to the run-up. There are bowlers who run in gingerly but benefit from well-built shoulders. They are strong men. Zaheer is not one of them.
If Zaheer’s in his elements, there’d be a pronounced jump before the delivery stride and a slightly extended run-up. That sort of Zaheer was last seen at Lord’s in 2011.
With Zaheer approaching 35, he’s probably got one good season left in him. It’s now or never.
On Wednesday, Zaheer ran in smoothly, there wasn’t that scare of watching him grab his hamstring and walk off.
Though he got Narsingh Deonarine with what appeared like a trademark lbw against left-handers, the batsman played a reckless shot across the line. And Zaheer wouldn’t have taken so much joy out of it.
NO REVERSE SWING
The negatives were he didn’t generate any reverse swing and bowled seven no-balls.
The enthusiastic college holiday, would cheer him on every time he fielded at fineleg. Zaheer, visibly unhappy with his bowling, finally waved to them.
Brief scores