Institutionally in Pakistani cricket, there is a disbelief that a bowler can be successful in varied conditions operating at the speed Mohammad Abbas puts out. As recently as last month, he was dropped amid concerns around his pace.
There are limitations to what seamers operating in the 77mph zone can do in certain circumstances, but the lack of appreciation for a bowler with Abbas’ record beggars belief.
There is an Urdu phrase that sums up the entire debate: “Pace is pace, yaah.” Tortological but deeply revealing of a nation’s feelings about the game, it basically means bowl fast and not a lot else matters.
Another masterpiece of a spell ripping out an entire top order; 902 red-ball poles; a few more summers ruining the lives of county batters; an average speed of 77mph.
Pace is pace? Nah.
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