- Sohail Tanvir shared insights on bowling in the West Indies.
- He said that mastering wind conditions is crucial.
- Shaheen Afridi needs to focus on length to succeed.
Tanvir is renowned for claiming the highest number of wickets as a foreign fast bowler in the history of the CPL.
Tanvir, who has been part of teams such as the Guyana Amazon Warriors, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, and St Lucia Zouks, stresses the significance of mastering wind conditions, which can greatly affect a player’s game. He points out that adaptability and smart use of variations are essential for bowlers, compensating for not having high speed.
“You won’t have seen genuine pacers there achieve as much success,” Tanvir conveyed to ESPN Cricinfo. “On those pitches, the quicker delivery is easy to handle and put away. Because there’s a lot of humidity there, a bowler who has the skills to swing the new ball will be successful up front. And with the old ball in the second half of the innings, variation is the key.”
He also notes the effectiveness of delivering a “good hard length” ball, which can pose challenges for the batsmen. He refers to Shaheen Afridi, who, despite his inexperience in the CPL, has been refining his approach by concentrating on the length of his deliveries.
“Shaheen can swing the ball but length is very important there,” Tanvir observes. “He used to just attack, and if the ball swung, he got wickets, and if it didn’t, he conceded 20-22 in his first two. But lately, he works on his length more. He goes after wickets, but also pulls back when he realises he’ll have to contain too.”
Furthermore, Tanvir mentions that while it’s easier to score when the ball is new and firm, scoring becomes tougher as the ball wears down.
“While the ball is new and hard, it’s easier to score runs there,” Tanvir remarks. “The older it gets, the more difficult. The West Indian players are able to use their power and score runs at the death too but it requires serious power-hitting.”
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