- Mir Hamza dismissed Travis Head in the AUS vs PAK Test match.
- He said that he received advice from Wasim Akram.
- He said he focused more on swinging the ball.
Mir Hamza, a Test fast bowler for Pakistan, has shared insights into the tactical brilliance that resulted in the dismissal of Australian cricketer Travis Head in the recent Test series.
In a one-on-one interview with Cricket Pakistan, Hamza disclosed that he had a well-defined strategy for facing Head, with a particular emphasis on ball swinging to outwit the skilled Australian.
“I always try to swing the ball. When Travis Head came, my aim was to either beat him or hit his pads or stumps. So, for him my plan was to swing the ball in, beat him, and get him bowled,” Mir Hamza said.
Hamza also mentioned receiving invaluable guidance from cricket icon Wasim Akram, who encouraged him to adhere to the basics and refrain from overstraining on the demanding Australian pitches.
“Wasim Akram advised me to stick to my basics and not try too hard on bouncy Australian pitches. After bowling well, he praised my precision and experience from playing 100 first-class matches, wishing me the best for the future,” he said.
While reflecting on his performance and addressing worries about a possible reduction in speed, the left-arm speedster stressed the significance of depending on his existing abilities and avoiding unnecessary efforts on other aspects.
“I’ve realized that if my skill is seam swing, then I should rely on it. You need pace for both red and white balls, but it should be effective enough to disturb the batsman. To some extent, you need pace on which I’m working,” Hamza said.
The 31-year-old also recounted his experience of bowling with Shaheen Afridi for the first time in his career. Praising Shaheen’s rapid comprehension of the match situation, Hamza underscored Afridi’s focus on fostering partnerships.
“It’s the first time in my career that I’ve bowled with Shaheen. Shaheen’s quality is that he reads the match situation very quickly. He believes more in partnerships. He doesn’t think about what the rest of the team is doing if he is taking wickets himself. Shaheen thinks more about his other bowlers,” he concluded.
