In the space of just three games, Abdur Razzak has almost doubled his wicket-tally for the year.
Wicketless in the first five one-day matches of 2010, the left-arm spinner has gradually built into the sort of year we have gotten used to from this steady performer. Before the Zimbabwe series, Razzak had picked up 16 wickets but after two four-wicket hauls and a five-for in consecutive matches, the law of averages has certainly moved in his favour.
Barring his first two years (2004 and 2005) when he took only seven ODI wickets, Razzak has been solid as he took 45 wickets in 2006, 30 the next year and another 29 in 2008.
This year he already has 29 wickets at an average slightly over the 30-mark, but with two matches to go and his left-arm spin having become so dangerous for the Zimbabweans, another handful is almost a certainty. Against them, he already has taken 53 ODI wickets at 15.30 runs per wicket, his next highest being 12 wickets each against Kenya and Sri Lanka.
Razzak is now second to Muttiah Muralidaran in the wickets against Zimbabwe list, the amazing Lankan having taken 56 against the Zimbabweans.
These statistics and the fact that Zimbabwe have had no answer to his bowling, made it clear that the visitors would talk a lot more about him. When asked about the difference between the two sides, Zimbabwe coach Alan Butcher said, “I don’t necessarily think there’s a big difference between the two sides. [Abdur] Razzak is winning matches for them as a bowler. Our bowlers, though effective, haven’t given a match-winning performance, so I think that’s the difference.”
“Razzak has taken a lot of wickets early on, making life difficult for us,” he added.
The left-armer was more devastating yesterday, though he did take a five-for and the hattrick in the second game. His ten-over spell yielded only 14 runs, beginning Zimbabwe’s slide towards a terrible defeat.
Chamu Chibhabha was done in by the arm-ball while Hamilton Masakadza didn’t even look back as Mushfiqur Rahim stumped him. Brendan Taylor’s poke found Junaed Siddiqui at slip while Regis Chakabva was the easiest wicket of the lot. The head coach Butcher was hardly impressed by all of this.
“It is as much a technical problem than anything else. You have to give credit to him [Razzak]. He’s bowling exceptionally well.
“It’s disappointing that we keep giving him three wickets in two overs. Whether it is psychological or that we are not picking him, we have to work on it in the next couple of days,” said the former England batsman.
It was not much of a surprise for the usually reserved Razzak to be humble about his performance. “I am confident and there’s help from the wicket. These two things are combining and working in my favour,” he said.
And the final proof that Razzak feels confident to bowl was found in the statement of the two captains, both spinners. Prosper Utseya and Shakib Al Hasan both mentioned the factor of the ground not being dry and the difficulty in gripping the ball.
Razzak too probably felt it was difficult but it was far from his mind, a sure sign of his increasing self-belief that has come through in these last 13 wickets.
