For many years, decades even, I’ve written and spoken about the decline in players’ performance towards the end of tours. They were merely personal observations but, from 1996, they were based on the science provided by Professor Tim Noakes who set out to prove that there was an optimal ‘peak’ of performance on tour after which sportsmen and women inevitably waned.
Pakistan continue to bring a refreshing non-corporate, non-stereotypical X-factor to cricket, both on and off the field. The cricket world would be so much duller without them.
I still chuckle when I think of a Test match about 12 years ago in Sydney where Aus chased down a big total on the last day. Kamran Akmal the keeper missed a few chances on that last day and there was talk of him being dropped for the next test. In no other team in the world would you get a response like the one from Kamran's brother, Umar Akmal, "If Kamran don't play, I don't play".
Pakistan continue to bring a refreshing non-corporate, non-stereotypical X-factor to cricket, both on and off the field. The cricket world would be so much duller without them.
I still chuckle when I think of a Test match about 12 years ago in Sydney where Aus chased down a big total on the last day. Kamran Akmal the keeper missed a few chances on that last day and there was talk of him being dropped for the next test. In no other team in the world would you get a response like the one from Kamran's brother, Umar Akmal, "If Kamran don't play, I don't play".
Hope that while writing these diaries you were able to escape some of the insanity that sets in 'the bubble'. Thanks a lot.
Rameez has his commentator buddies on speed- dial :) . Safe travels home.