Asif aiming to emulate McGrath by AFP

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Player:

Mohammad Asif, GD McGrath

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DateLine: 18th August 2006

 

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif said he hoped he could be a "big name" like Glenn McGrath after taking four wickets on his first day back in Test cricket against England here at The Oval.

 

The 23-year-old quick missed the first three matches of this encounter with an elbow injury as his side went a losing 2-0 down in the series.

 

But he was back in the groove with four for 56 in 19 overs, all top order wickets, as England were bowled out for a meagre 173 on the first day of the fourth and final Test.

 

Last month Pakistan vice-captain Younis Khan said Asif "looked like a young Glenn McGrath".

 

It was some claim given that the Australia great has taken 542 Test wickets - the most by any fast bowler.

 

But Asif does bowl in similar fashion, relying on accuracy and movement as much as sheer speed although he did routinely exceed 80mph here Thursday after Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq won the toss and fielded.

 

"I don't know," said a modest Asif when told by reporters after stumps of Younis's comments.

 

"I try to be similar (to McGrath), by bowling a consistent line and length. Every captain wants one bowler who bowls maiden overs every time and disturbs the batsman every ball."

 

He added: "I've watched McGrath and Jason Gillespie a lot as well as Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

 

"McGrath is a big name. I want to be a big name," insisted Asif, whose five previous Test appearances have seen him take 25 wickets at a miserly average of 20 apiece.

 

Reflecting on a day that finished with Pakistan on 96 for one, a deficit of 77 runs, with Imran Farhat 56 not out and Mohammad Yousuf 12 not out, Asif said: "We had a good day. After the injury I felt a lot of pressure early on. I just tried to bowl line and length and swing the ball early on, nothing else."

 

Earlier this season Asif played for English county Leicestershire where he gained a valuable local knowledge under the guidance of Tim Boon, formerly a member of England's backroom staff.

 

"That was a good experience. For one-and-a-half months I was with Tim Boon and he's a good coach," said Asif. "This is my first tour of England and I learned a lot about English conditions."

 

As well as Asif, Pakistan have also been without fellow quicks Shoaib Akhtar (ankle) and Naved (groin) for the first three Tests of this series.

 

Both Akhtar and Naved are still sidelined although Asif was hopeful the trio would be reunited for the upcoming five-match one-day series against England.

 

"I was really disappointed because we lost the series. Now we just try to make a good comeback in this match and then we have the one-day series left. If Shoaib, myself and Rana Naved are fit we have a good bowling attack."

 

With Pakistan having lost their first Test series in England since 1982, Asif admitted he was taken aback to be playing at The Oval.

 

"I am surprised because we've already lost the series. But I wanted to play because, with the one-day series coming up, I wanted to be in a good rhythm and every Test is important.

 

But he was adamant that starting in the fielding straight away held no fears for him.

 

"I wanted to bowl first because every pitch, even if it's good for batting, has a little bit of moisture in it on the first day."

 

Meanwhile England coach Duncan Fletcher made no attempt to hide his disappointment at what was a poor all-round display by his side, now in their final Test before they begin their Ashes defence in Brisbane in November.

 

"We gave away a lot of soft wickets. There has been a little bit of complacency and the bowling was pretty loose up front."

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)