Srinagar: Terming him nightmare for batsman, Sri Lanka legend Mahela Jayawardene has named the toughest bowler he has faced in International cricket.
From Allan Donald to Glenn McGrath, Jayawardene was tested against the best of the pacers of the late 1990s and 2000s but there is one pacer whole Jayawardene reckoned as nightmare.
Former Sri Lanka skipper said he had a tough time facing was the legendary Wasim Akram.
The former Pakistan captain was at the top of his game in the year 1997 when Jayawardene made his international debut in 1997. By then, Akram has strongly established himself as one of the best fast bowlers going around.
“Hands down, Wasim Akram. I made my debut when he [Akram] was at his peak or the backend of his career. It was a nightmare to face him as it was tough because he is challenging you with the new ball, he is coming with the old ball. It doesn’t matter what format it is. It was 4 PM in the afternoon of the second day of a Test and he is still going to beat your bat,” Jayawardene said on the ICC Review Show.
“He was a tough, tough bowler to face. He had a really quick-arm action through the crease as well and it was tough to get into that rhythm, that tempo of your movement. And then he used to come round the wicket, over the wicket, create angles. He would make it swing with the old ball, new ball,” mentioned Jayawardene.
