Shoaib Akhtar to Mark Wood: Shoaib Akhtar is counted among the world’s leading fast bowlers. He remains very active on social media. Many times he criticizes the players of his team and sometimes he also encourages them for good performance. Now he has given a strange advice to the pacer of England. The England team is currently on a tour of Pakistan and is playing a Test series.
Akhtar’s advice to Mark Wood Shoaib Akhtar, who bowled the fastest recorded ball in cricket history, also gives tips to young players. Now he has given an advice to England pacer Mark Wood. During a conversation on ‘The Wanny and Tuffers Cricket Club’ podcast, Akhtar said that Mark Wood is a great looking guy with great bowling action. He said that he likes to watch Wood bowling. In Akhtar’s view, to touch the speed of 100 mph, Mark Wood would need a special training, which he himself had once practiced.
Pull truck if…
Akhtar said, ‘I have noticed some things in him (Mark Wood). They lose their follow-through. Thank God he shortened his runup. He lands on the left foot and you will often see him fall on the pitch. This is because he cannot control the follow through. If he is thinking that he cannot bowl at a speed of more than 155 kmph, then he is absolutely wrong. If he wants to bowl at 100 mph, he’s going to have to start pulling trucks. I made pitches of about 26 yards. I made a ball about four times as heavy as the normal one. Did a lot of weight training, cycled with weights. I used to do this about 1000 times.
The fastest ball was thrown in the 2003 World Cup, Akhtar further said, ‘I have developed such muscles, which I could never think of before. Little did I know that I was losing strength in my knees and bones at the same time. Any bowler who can bowl at a speed of 150 kmph has 10 kms in reserve with proper preparation and proper recovery. Akhtar achieved the feat of throwing the fastest ball during the 2003 World Cup. His speed of that ball was 161.3 km per hour.
