Cricket career of Umar Gul

  • Reading time:4 mins read
  • Post comments:0 Comments

Umar Gul, the rising star of Pakistan in cricket. Performing magnificently in ICC WorldCup 2011, has now become the main wicket taker bowler. How did this happen? Let’s have a look.

Umar Gul, the right arm fast medium bowler born to a middle class family of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa in 14 April 1084, played first time at international level in April 2003, at Cherry Blossom Sharjah Cup. There he played four one-day matches, took four wickets
and not gained much acclaimed. In 2003-04 he made his test debut in home series against Bangladesh, here he got spotted by taking 15 wickets in three test matches and became the second bowler of Pakistan who took the highest wickets in test series. First one
was Shabbir Ahmed with 17 wickets. He also played ODIs against Bangladesh and in third one day match he took five wickets for 17 runs in nine overs and total 11 wickets. However this excellent performance could not help him to make regular place in national
team.
    
The test series against India was the most acclaimed series for Umar Gul that journalist Dileep Premachndran could not stop him from praising his controlled line and length. In his second over Umar took his first big wicket by dismissing the Virender Sehwag,
the main Indian batsman. He ended up his spell by taking five top order batsmen only for 31 runs,including Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulker.
    
A back injury kept Umar away from Cricket for almost two years. In 2006 he came back with more fitness and confidence, played series against Sri Lanka followed by tour to England gained 18 wickets in four tests. This improved faith of his selectors and fans
on him.
    
His most memorable performance and successful series were against West Indies. His brilliant reverse swing bowling spell made spectators crazy about him. One of his beautiful Yorker broke the toe of Ramnaresh Sarwan.

    
Umar was not getting much test matches because of his injuries and less cricket in Pakistan but he did not give up and put immense effort in changing his bowling set-up. He mainly focused on bowling in last overs of twenty20 cricket. Due to the absence of Shoaib
Akhter and Abdul Razaq he got the opportunity to play ICC World Twenty2007 . in semi final against New Zealand he took 3 wickets for 15 runs in four overs, took 13 wickets in tournament and ended up as leading wicket taker bowler.
    
In 2009 ICC World Twenty20 he took five wickets for only six runs against New Zealand brought him special acclaimed and made him recognized as outstanding seam bowler of world. He has become the second leader wicket taker in Twenty20 game by taking 47 wickets
in 32 games, behind Shahid Afridi.
    
He was signed by Indian Premier League in February 2008. He played from Kolkata Knight Riders of Shahrukh Khan, took 12 wickets in 6 matches. In December 2008 he signed by Western Warriars in Twenty20 Bigbash Tournament, here he again showed his magnificent
performance by taking 4 wickets for 15 runs in his debut match. However he did not play whole tournament but finished as second most wicket with 12 wickets.
    
In August 2007 in a test match against England Pakistan was at 103/7 and Umar came to bat he made 29 of 30 deliveries. By the end of the day Pakistan was 148/9 and needed 11 runs to avoid follow-on. Next morning Umar scored 34 runs just in 11 deliveries along
with his partner Muhammad Asif. Umar scored 65* by the end of match as Muhammad Asif got run out and prevented Pakistan from follow-on. Despite of being a bowler here he proved his ability to perform as lower order batsman.
    
Umar Gul has credit of being first ever bowler to own five wicket haul in all international Cricket format, test match cricket, one day international cricket and twenty20 cricket.He is undoubtedly an outstanding talent of Pakistan and proved to be the future
legend of cricket.

Leave a Reply