Mohammad Irfan
Famous West Indian fast bowler Joel Garner was the only cricketer who was above six feet in height, and that is why he was called Big Birdie. He used to exploit his height to perfection and no batsman in the world could take him to task as long as he played cricket. Well, Pakistan seems to have found their own Joel Garner. The lad’s name is Mohammad Irfan and he is going to be the tallest cricketer in the world, having height of 7ft 1 inch and is going to take charge of the new ball for Pakistan in place of Mohammed Arif, the tainted Pakistani player.
For a fast bowler, it could be a debut that would also talked about for the age at which it is being made. Irfan is all of 28 years of age, an age when most of the fast bowlers start contemplating about hanging their boots. Irfan would be able to capitalize on his height to generate awkward bounce and make the life hellish for the batsmen. Bowlers having height have the propensity to generate awkward bounce from the pitch on account of the height from which they release the ball. English fans would be delighted to watch this player bowling in perfect bowling conditions for fast bowlers. One is instantly reminded of Glen McGrath he was 6 ft and 5 inches or near about in height and was most of the times unplayable for most of the batsmen around the world, imagine what havoc can a height of 7 ft 1 inch cause.
Irfan’s story is also a story from rags to riches. He featured in the list of probable in the Pakistan squad but could not make it. Such was his despair that he had decided to give up cricket and start work in a plastic factory in Pakistan, but now fortune has smiled on him, and one only hopes that whatever cricket is left in him should not force him to work in a plastic factory once again. Caveat would be that he should not succumb to the betting racket.
One is always amazed how Pakistan continues to have a new fast bowler every season while India continues to struggle in this department. May be, the time has come for some introspection.
By: Suman Rai
Tags: Big Birdie, Cricket, Cricketer, Joel Garner, Mohammad Irfan, Pakistan, West Indies
