Axar Patel might just become fastest bowler to 100 wickets: Shoaib Akhtar

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has lavished praise on Axar Patel, saying India’s latest spin sensation might become the quickest to 100 Test wickets. Akhtar’s comments came after Axar played an important role in India’s thumping 3-1 win over England in the recently-concluded Test series. The left-arm spinner earned his maiden Test call-up for the series only because incumbent Ravindra Jadeja was sidelined with a thumb injury.

He also missed the first Test due to injury before making his debut in the second Test and there was no looking back after that. Right from his debut till the final Test, he tormented England and picked up 27 wickets at an average of just 10.59. Only Ravichandran Ashwin (32) picked more wickets than him after having played one game more.

On his debut, Axar made an immediate impact and took seven wickets in the match, including 5-60 in the second innings as India clinched a series-levelling win. In the third Test, he did even better and returned figures of 6-38 and 5-42 as India thrashed the visitors inside two days. In the fourth and final Test, Axar picked up 9 wickets including 5 for 48 in the second innings.

Axar Patel is an intelligent bowler too: Akhtar

“Not only did he get a suitable wicket to bowl on, but he is an intelligent bowler too. He wouldn’t have given a chance to the English players when the control was in his hands, and that is what he did. If he keeps getting a few series like this, he might just become fastest bowler to 100 wickets. Having said that, England should have played him better,” Shoaib Akhtar said on his YouTube channel.

Shoaib Akhtar criticises England:

Shoaib Akhtar also criticised England for their poor batting display. The former cricketer slammed the visitors for putting their focus  on the pitch and not on their batting. He pointed out that even youngsters like Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar scored runs on the pitch where England batsmen looked almost clueless.

“While many might talk about the wickets in the series, but look how India scored 365. They also played on the same wickets, where the England batsmen struggled. If Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar can score runs, why can’t the English. With utmost ease, India has beaten England in the series, and sealed a spot in the final of the World Test Championship final,” Shoaib Akhtar said.

“All in all, it was an embarrassing defeat for the England team, and they have got a reality check in India. But they need to now learn the art of playing spin in the sub-continent well. Not sure, how are they going to lift themselves up from this humiliating defeat and motivate themselves to play better,”  he added.