Irfan Pathan Worried About Fast Bowlers; Reckons They Will Take 4-6 Weeks To Get Going

While international cricket has already returned to the fore, former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has expressed grave concerns. Having been a fast bowler himself, Irfan Pathan has raised significant concerns about fast bowlers amid the extended hiatus from the sport. England and the West Indies locked horns on the 8th of July in the first of the three Tests in Southampton.

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Before top-level cricket returned, the last international match took place back in March. Since then, IPL and various other international tours were called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, the players have developed stiffness and fast bowlers, who are most injury-prone than others have remained under the scanner.

According to Irfan Pathan, pace bowlers will take approximately 4-6 weeks to get going in full flow. The former left-arm seamer conceded that it is a challenging job to steam in and bowl 140-150 kmph and keep bowling the same.

“To be honest, I am really worried about the fast bowlers. Going forward, they might need 4-6 weeks to get going themselves. It’s a tough job and if you are bowling 140-150 kmph, running about 25 yards to bowl one ball at a time and then keep bowling for a few overs,” Pathan said in the Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected.

Pathan added that the body becomes rusty when staying out of action for long and that injury management would be crucial. He maintained that fast bowlers would find it hard to find their stride initially and take 4-6 weeks to get into a rhythm.

“Your body gets stiff, injury management will be key as well because I think for any fast bowler to get back into the rhythm, it takes at least 4-6 weeks, so I think fast bowlers will have to be a little more careful than the spinners or the batsmen,”

“Till the pandemic is there and the rule stays, the bowlers will have it a bit tougher than usual” : Irfan Pathan

One of the most burning topics is how the fast bowlers will cope with the challenge of finding movement without saliva in Tests. The Baroda-born cricketer cited the instance of England pacers Jofra Archer and Mark Wood bowling under bright sunshine in the first Test and said that until the pandemic is hovering, bowlers might find it hard to get reverse swing with the old cherry.

“After watching Mark Wood and Jofra Archer bowl on the fifth day under bright sunshine, feels that for sometime, bowlers should forget about getting reverse with the old ball. Since saliva is thicker, it affects reverse swing more than conventional swing which requires sweat for shining the ball. Till the pandemic is there and the rule stays, the bowlers will have it a bit tougher than usual,” he added.

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