Shoaib Akhtar Recalls Bowling Fastest Ever Spell Against Ricky Ponting In 1999 Perth Test

Mar 19, 2022 at 12:45 PM

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Shoaib Akhtar Recalls Bowling Fastest Ever Spell Against Ricky Ponting In 1999 Perth Test

Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan’s express pacer recalled his first-ever series against Australia – in 1998, the last time they had visited Pakistan prior to the ongoing tour.

With Australia’s ongoing tour of Pakistan, their first in 24 years, being one of the key talking points in world cricket, especially after the impressive Karachi Test, one of Pakistan’s legends, Shoaib Akhtar recalled his most memorable duel against the Aussies, triggering flashbacks of that fiery duel with former captain Ricky Ponting in the 1999 Test in Perth.

Shoaib Akhtar recalls fiery duel with Ricky Ponting in 1999 Perth Test(Getty)
Shoaib Akhtar recalls fiery duel with Ricky Ponting in 1999 Perth Test(Getty)

Shoaib Akhtar Recalled Bowling The Fastest Spell To See Whether Ricky Ponting Can Play Or Be Beaten

Pakistan were trailing in the series 0-2 after Justin Langer and Adam Gilchrist’s sensational fourth-innings scores helped the hosts chase down 369 in Hobart. Shoaib Akhtar single-handedly wanted to pull one back for the visitors and the bouncy Perth conditions had the stage ready for one of the fastest bowlers of all time to wreak havoc.

“During the Test match, I thought [if nothing is happening] let’s hurt somebody,” Akhtar said in an interview. “That’s why I bowled the fastest spell. I wanted to see if Ricky can match my pace and I was purposely bowling bouncers [to] see if I could beat him but before that I had never beaten him with my sheer pace.”

Ricky Ponting. Image- Twitter
Ricky Ponting. Image- Twitter

“Had it not been Ricky Ponting … I would have chopped his [the batsman’s] head off because it was furiously fast.”

The pace great also recalled his first-ever series against Australia – in 1998, the last time they had visited Pakistan prior to the ongoing tour. Shoaib Akhtar has the fastest recorded legal delivery in Test cricket and openly admits he tried to chop Ricky Ponting’s head off. Ricky Ponting has called a spell he faced from Shoaib Akhtar the fastest ever.

Shoaib Akhtar Wants Bodyline Bowling Should Be Allowed

Shoaib Akhtar believes that even though he went in with an aggressive mindset of hurting their batters during the match with lethal bouncers, his Australian attitude was widely embraced by the Aussies. Shoaib Akhtar has called for the return of Bodyline and unlimited bouncers to revive the game.

Bodyline, or fast leg theory bowling, was a tactic adopted by the English cricket team during the 1932–33 Ashes series. It involved hurling the cricket ball at the batsman’s body so they are forced to either hit straight to a fielder on the leg side or get stuck. The tactics were quickly outlawed.

“[They loved] my aggression because they think I am a Pakistani who has the attitude of an Australian,” Akhtar says. “I gave it to them. In the 2005 series, me and [Justin] Langer got into a fight. Me and [Matt] Hayden got into a fight. It’s verbal, not physical. I wanted to display my talent [and show] that I am better than you.”

“They wanted gladiators out there. Nowadays, they are very soft. I don’t think the aggression is as much there now. I don’t know why. I’m old school, like Ian Chappell. I want unlimited bouncers. Bodyline bowling should be allowed. Why not? I want some character. I’ve been best of friends with Brett Lee and I respected Ricky Ponting.”

Australian opener Justin Langer wears a bouncer from Akhtar in the spiteful Test series between Pakistan and Australia in 2004/05 @AAP
Australian opener Justin Langer wears a bouncer from Akhtar in the spiteful Test series between Pakistan and Australia in 2004/05 @AAP

Shoaib Akhtar has also lived in Australia during the early part of his career.

“The warmth I got from Australians was amazing,” Akhtar says. “Jeff Thomson’s house in Brisbane was like a second home to me. Sadly my mother passed away two months ago but she went to Australia and loved it. It’s the most fascinating place.”

Test bowlers have been restricted to two bouncers per over since 1994. While Bodyline has been outlawed for almost 90 years, it didn’t stop Shoaib Akhtar from employing tactics designed to hurt rather than take wickets during his playing career.

He recalled the infamous Test series in Australia in 2004/05 when he had a running battle with Australian openers Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer along with No.3 and Aussie legend Ricky Ponting.

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