Akram and the fast bowling

[smooth_guy]

Wasim Akram reinforces the whole power into his shoulder to generate the fierce pace to the ball. While other pace bowlers usually use their long and fast runups and the whole body's act at the end ot deliver a fast ball.

Does any other bowler do the same or its unique to him?
Technically what its called when a left arm fast pacer uses his shoulder?

[Sohaib]

Re: Akram and the fast bowling

Originally posted by smooth_guy:
Wasim Akram reinforces the whole power into his shoulder to generate the fierce pace to the ball. While other pace bowlers usually use their long and fast runups and the whole body's act at the end ot deliver a fast ball.

Does any other bowler do the same or its unique to him?
Technically what its called when a left arm fast pacer uses his shoulder?

whippy action.

[UMAIR316]

A unique action, I don't remember many bowlers who have short runups and bowling at 140.

[kaka malang]

Its commonly called the "slingshot" effect......but its a rigorous technique to master if at all, which explains why wasim still has issues with line and length

[samb]

I modelled myself on Akram for some time and then reverted to the regular Azhar Mehmoodish action.

I found two things:

1) my shoulder and elbow used to get messed up a lot especially because I don't have the strength that's required for such an action.

2) I used to have more control on where I wanted to land the ball (unexpectedly).

[UMAIR316]

That is very obvious why he gives away so many no balls, because his run up is very short, he has less time to think about line & length and also the crease.

[Jaan Lewaa]

yeah it'z take all power from ur shoulder my uncle who uzed to play in PAK A team also uzed to bowl like dat now hiz shoulder iz kompletly injured now he kan't bowl n-e more

[armughal]

i dont think its something a fast bowler shud try if he's not used to it....
i tried it a couple of times and it hurts real bad....

[Faisal]

For his kinda action, u need a strong back, strong shoulders and very strong wrist. If any of these is missing, you will either be a lame-duck fast bowler or will become unfit in very short time.

This is a very hard action, and that is why not many bowlers can do it. Remarkably Wasim has kept himself fit even at this age. If any other bowler had stuck with this action, like Shoaib, they would have been out of the game with persistent back-pains a long time ago.

[mirpuri]

it is interesting that someone bought this subject up i just wanted to ask anyone who knows the answer to my query: when wasim akram was first picked by imran khan for the tour of new zealand as a youngster way back in 1980's i believe what was wasim's top bowling speed then because batsmen have sujjested that wasim was not far off the likes of shoaib and lee in bowling speed that is during the start of his career is that true can anyone add to this:

although i'm not sure if they paid any attention to speed guns in those days compared to the attention given to bowling speed in the present day and age.