Kevin Pietersen Reveals The Best Bowler He Has Ever Faced In His International Career
Apr 6, 2019 at 2:13 PM
Former England batsman Kevin Pietersen has revealed Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif was the best bowler that he has ever faced in his international career for his subtle variations before picking his best batsman he has played ever played against in the form of Ricky Pointing and Jacques Kallis.
“The best bowler I faced was Mohammad Asif, the bowler from Pakistan who got done for (spot)-fixing. Probably not a bad thing because he tormented a lot of batters,” Pietersen said.
Pietersen, who plays for Melbourne Stars in the KFC Big Bash League in Australia, has admitted it in Mark Howard’s podcast programme, The Howie Games.
After the Lord’s infamous Test in 2010, Mohammad Asif, who made the first-class return in October last year, was banned for over five years alongside his the then skipper Salman Butt and teammate Mohammad Amir for deliberately bowling a no-ball.
“Just his ability to make a batsman feel like the ball was accelerating off the wicket in different directions,” Pietersen added.
Pietersen, the top-order batsman, who has played 104 Tests for England was picked by Asif for a golden duck in 2006 at the Oval.
“If I was in good form, he made sure I wasn’t in good form a couple of weeks later after playing him,” Pietersen further added.
The Shiekhpura-born Asif has removed Pietersen for four times before Pakistan’s first Test in England in 2010.
“If I wasn’t in good form, I knew I wasn’t in good form after playing him for a couple of weeks during a series,” Pietersen remarked.
Asif, who took 106 wickets in 23 Tests at an average of 24.36, has deceived several veteran batsmen with his uncanny seam movement during his short international career.
After former Australian fast-bowler Brett Lee and Sri Lankan former ace spinner Muttiah Muralidaran dismissed English batsman for over six times. Aussie fast bowler has removed the right-handed batsman over 10 times in Tests.
The KwaZulu-Natal-born Pietersen has scored 8,181 runs at an average of 47.12. In 136 ODIs he has amassed 4,440 runs at an average of 40.73.