We first saw these against India in the final test this year when he clean bowled Sehwag, Tendulkar and Laxman with beautiful off cutters (the ball that goes from off to leg - basically seams in) in a new ball spell that effectively sealed India's fate in that game.
And against SL in the next series it was Asif principally who helped Pakistan achieve a series win. Who will forget that ball to Samaraweera that pitched about 20 inches outside the off stump and then cut in to hit the leg stump!!!!
As Cricinfo reported it at the time:
"Mohammad Asif to Samaraweera, OUT, goodness me! good length delivery, this one jagged back in from way outside the off stump, Samaraweera shoulders arms, ball swings in and clips the leg stump! amazing delivery! Asif adds one more to the list - Sri Lanka five down"
First there was Waqar's yorker - then Saqlain's Doosra; is the next BIG delivery in Pakistan coming from the hand of Mohammad Asif with his off and leg cutters? I wonder......... |