Coordinates	53°25′″N18°26′″N
playername	Damien Martyn
country	Australia
fullname	Damien Richard Martyn
nickname	Marto
living	true
dayofbirth	21
monthofbirth	10
yearofbirth	1971
placeofbirth	Darwin, Northern Territory
countryofbirth	Australia
heightm	1.81
batting	Right-hand
bowling	Right-arm medium
role	Batsman
international	true
testdebutdate	27 November
testdebutyear	1992
testdebutagainst	West Indies
testcap	353
lasttestdate	1 December
lasttestyear	2006
lasttestagainst	England
odidebutdate	8 December
odidebutyear	1992
odidebutagainst	West Indies
odicap	109
lastodidate	5 November
lastodiyear	2006
lastodiagainst	West Indies
odishirt	30
club1	Western Australia
year1	1991 - 2006
club2	Leicestershire
year2	1991
club3	Yorkshire
year3	2003
club4	Rajasthan Royals
year4	2010
columns	4
column1	Test
matches1	67
runs1	4,406
bat avg1	46.37
100s/50s1	13/23
top score1	165
deliveries1	348
wickets1	2
bowl avg1	84.00
fivefor1	-
tenfor1	-
best bowling1	1/0
catches/stumpings1	36/–
column2	ODIs
matches2	208
runs2	5,346
bat avg2	40.80
100s/50s2	5/37
top score2	144*
deliveries2	794
wickets2	12
bowl avg2	58.66
fivefor2	-
tenfor2	n/a
best bowling2	2/21
catches/stumpings2	69/–
column3	FC
matches3	204
runs3	14,630
bat avg3	49.25
100s/50s3	44/73
top score3	238
deliveries3	3,365
wickets3	37
bowl avg3	42.24
fivefor3	-
tenfor3	-
best bowling3	4/30
catches/stumpings3	158/2
column4	List A
matches4	297
runs4	8,567
bat avg4	42.83
100s/50s4	10/60
top score4	144*
deliveries4	1,549
wickets4	41
bowl avg4	31.70
fivefor4	-
tenfor4	n/a
best bowling4	3/3
catches/stumpings4	102/–
date	14 December
year	2007
source	http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/6513.html cricinfo.com }}

Damien Richard Martyn (born 21 October 1971 in Darwin, Northern Territory) is a former Australian cricketer. He played for the national team sporadically in 1992-1994 before becoming a regular ODI player in 1999-2000 and a regular Test player in 2001 until his retirement in late 2006. He was primarily a right-handed middle-order as a batsman with a 'classical' technique, known in particular for his elegant strokemaking square of the wicket on the off-side and through the covers. Martyn was also an occasional medium-pacer and distinguished fieldsman primarily in the covers who was capable of creating spectacular run-outs. He also very occasionally kept wicket at first-class level. He was named man of the series in the Border Gavaskar Trophy in 2004, to help Australia defeat India on the subcontinent for the first time in more than 30 years, and was named in early 2005 as the Australian Test player of the Year at the annual Allan Border Medal presentations.

Early international career

Martyn moved with his family to Perth, Western Australia at the age of three, and was educated at Girrawheen Senior High School, before being selected for the Australian Cricket Academy in Adelaide in 1990. He made his first class debut for Western Australia the following season, in which he scored 822 runs at 51.37. Noted for his daring and sometimes cavalier strokeplay, Martyn was selected to make his Test debut against the West Indies in November, 1992 at the Gabba, a surprise replacement for Dean Jones. He batted in the middle-order, scoring 36 and 15. He played in all Tests in that season, apart from the Fourth Test at the Adelaide Oval where he was replaced by fellow Western Australian Justin Langer after sustaining an injury before the match. However, his performances were unconvincing, totalling 168 runs at 28.16 for the series, passing 50 only once with an unbeaten 67* at the MCG. Martyn was also a member of the ODI squad in that season, playing less regularly in only four of eleven matches, and aggregating 45 runs at 22.5.

Martyn was subsequently dropped from the Test team in the early 1993 tour to New Zealand, until being recalled for the Third Test at Eden Park, Auckland after Mark Waugh was dropped, scoring 74. Martyn also played in some of the subsequent ODIs on the New Zealand tour as well as on the 1993 Ashes tour to England, but was dropped from the Test team after Waugh scored centuries in the warm-up matches and had been the leading run scorer in the New Zealand ODIs. Waugh was third in the Test batting averages, confining Martyn to playing in tour matches against county teams. Martyn was given another chance in the 1993-94 Australian season when Steve Waugh tore a hamstring and Martyn played in the Boxing Day and New Year's Tests at the MCG and SCG respectively. Although he managed 59 in the first innings of a low scoring match in Sydney, it was his performance in the second innings which blighted his reputation for many years into the future. With Australia stumbling while chasing a small target of 117 against South Africa, Martyn had trouble scoring, with an unconvincing 6 from 59 balls in almost two hours as he and Craig McDermott took the total from 8-75 to within sight of victory at 8-110. He then attempted an airborne cover-drive off Allan Donald and was caught, and Australia lost the Test. Martyn was heavily criticised by the media who blamed him for the defeat. He played three more ODIs in that season, before being dropped upon Waugh's return from injury. Although Waugh would have reprised his position in any case, Martyn lost his position as the reserve batsman and was dropped from subsequent national squads altogether. He would not play ODI cricket again until 1997 and Tests until 2000.

International exile

After returning to the domestic arena Martyn was appointed as captain of Western Australia in the 1994/95 season at the age of 23, the youngest player to have been given the honour. He also captained Australia A in the international ODI tournament of the same season. The following season, he relinquished the captaincy to Moody, in order to concentrate on his batting.

Later international career

He re-appeared at the start of the millennium when he replaced an injured Ricky Ponting on the tour to New Zealand in early 2000. Despite topping the averages in New Zealand he made way for Ponting for the home series against the West Indies in 2000/01. He played one test during that summer, replacing an injured Steve Waugh for Australia's victory at Adelaide where he remained not out in both innings.

He was selected on Australia's tour to India in 2001 and was considered unlucky not to replace a struggling Ponting. His chance to consolidate a permanent position came in the side came during the 2001 Ashes tour where he replaced fellow West Australian Justin Langer in the first test. He posted his maiden test century in the first test at Edgbaston. He was chosen as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year as a result of his performances in The Ashes in the summer of 2001.

Martyn subsequently put in regular appearances for Australia, becoming integral to the middle-order and eventually filling the void at no. 4 left by Mark Waugh's international retirement. His best form came over a twelve month period beginning in March 2004 where he scored two crucial centuries to help Australia to a 3-0 series whitewash in Sri Lanka. He was then man of the series in India when Australia claimed their first series victory on Indian soil in over 30 years. He made two centuries and narrowly missed out on becoming the first Australian batsman since Don Bradman to make three centuries in three innings when he was dismiseed for 97 in the second innings of the second test. Two centuries at home against Pakistan over the 2004/05 season and another in New Zealand in 2005 rounded out a stellar 12 months in which Martyn had made 1608 runs at an average of 61.84 in 12 months including 7 test centuries.

Martyn was presented with the McGilvray Medal in 2005 as the ABC's Test cricketer of the year as well as being adjudged Test Player of the Year at the 2005 Allan Border Medal.

Following a poor Ashes tour of England in 2005, where he recorded a total of 178 runs at an average of 19.77, Martyn was dropped from the Australian Test side to play in the ICC Super Series 2005. However, he was retained in the ODI side over the 2005/06 summer.

He was recalled to the Test squad at the expense of Brad Hodge for the three-Test series in South Africa in March and April 2006. Chairman of Selectors Trevor Hohns cited his experience as the major reason for his recall. His contributions in the first two tests were minimal but he repaid the selectors' faith with an important century in the second innings of the third test that helped guide Australia to victory.

In the 2006 Champions Trophy Tournament, Martyn won back-to-back man of the match awards against England and India. He also played an important unbeaten innings in the final against the West Indies to help Australia win the tournament for the first time. He was Australia's leading runscorer in the tournament.

Retirement

Martyn played in the first two Tests of the 2006/07 Ashes series, where he managed to score just 45 runs in three innings. Dismissed for only 5 playing a rash shot in Australia's run chase in the second Test, his place in the side came under increasing scrutiny in the media, although he received several statements of support from members of the Australia team, notably Mike Hussey and Justin Langer.

Despite his poor form Martyn was widely expected to retain his place due to Shane Watson's lack of fitness and the fact that the third test was to be played at the W.A.C.A. Ground, Martyn's home ground. It came as a surprise when on 8 December 2006, Martyn announced his immediate retirement from all domestic and international cricket. Commenting on his decision, Martyn said: "I would like to advise of my retirement from cricket, effective from today. I do so with a deep awareness of the opportunities that the game and Cricket Australia have provided for me." Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland insisted that Martyn had not been pushed and that Martyn was originally going to be named in the squad for the third Test.

On 1 September 2007, it was reported in the ''Daily Telegraph'' that Martyn had joined the break-away Indian Cricket League. However, since then he has pulled out of the event due to the birth of his first son, Ryder, but rejoined the ICL for 2008.

On 19 January 2010, Martyn was signed for US$100,000 to play for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League.

External links

Cricinfo article on Damien Martyn

References

Super Series 2005 - Australian Squad from Cricinfo

Category:Australia One Day International cricketers Category:Australia Test cricketers Category:Australia Twenty20 International cricketers Category:Western Australia cricketers Category:Leicestershire cricketers Category:Yorkshire cricketers Category:Wisden Cricketers of the Year Category:Commonwealth Games silver medallists for Australia Category:People from Darwin, Northern Territory Category:1971 births Category:Living people Category:Ahmedabad cricketers Category:Rajasthan (Indian Premier League) cricketers Category:Australian cricketers

mr:डेमियन मार्टिन

Coordinates	53°25′″N18°26′″N
playername	Shaun Pollock
country	South Africa
fullname	Shaun Maclean Pollock
nickname	Polly
living	true
dayofbirth	16
monthofbirth	9
yearofbirth	1973
placeofbirth	Port Elizabeth, Cape Province
countryofbirth	South Africa
heightft	6
heightinch	2
batting	Right-handed
bowling	Right arm fast-medium
role	Bowling all-rounder
international	true
testdebutdate	16 November
testdebutyear	1995
testdebutagainst	England
testcap	261
lasttestdate	10 January
lasttestyear	2008
lasttestagainst	West Indies
odidebutdate	9 January
odidebutyear	1996
odidebutagainst	England
odicap	39
lastodidate	3 February
lastodiyear	2008
lastodiagainst	West Indies
odishirt	7
club1	KwaZulu-Natal
year1	1992/93–2003/04
club2	Warwickshire
year2	1996–2002
club3	Dolphins
year3	2004/05
club4	Mumbai Indians
year4	2008
Club5	Durham
Year5	2008
columns	4
column1	Test
matches1	108
runs1	3,781
bat avg1	32.31
100s/50s1	2/16
top score1	111
deliveries1	24,353
wickets1	421
bowl avg1	23.11
fivefor1	16
tenfor1	1
best bowling1	7/87
catches/stumpings1	72/–
column2	ODI
matches2	303
runs2	3,519
bat avg2	26.45
100s/50s2	1/14
top score2	130
deliveries2	15,712
wickets2	393
bowl avg2	24.50
fivefor2	5
tenfor2	n/a
best bowling2	6/35
catches/stumpings2	108/–
column3	FC
matches3	186
runs3	7,021
bat avg3	33.11
100s/50s3	6/35
top score3	150*
deliveries3	39,067
wickets3	667
bowl avg3	23.25
fivefor3	22
tenfor3	2
best bowling3	7/33
catches/stumpings3	132/–
column4	LA
matches4	435
runs4	5,494
bat avg4	26.66
100s/50s4	3/24
top score4	134*
deliveries4	21,588
wickets4	573
bowl avg4	22.93
fivefor4	7
tenfor4	n/a
best bowling4	6/21
catches/stumpings4	153/–
date	20 September
year	2008
source	http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/2/2227/2227.html CricketArchive }}

Shaun Maclean Pollock (born 16 September 1973 in Port Elizabeth) is a retired South African cricketer who is considered a bowling all-rounder. From 2000 to 2003 he was the captain of the South African cricket team, and also played for Africa XI, World XI, Dolphins and Warwickshire. He was also chosen as the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2003. He is the leading wicket taker among South Africans, taking over 400 test wickets and scoring over 3,700 test runs in his 108 Test matches. On 11 January 2008 he announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket after his 303rd One Day International on 3 February.

Career

Shaun Pollock was a fast-medium seam bowler, with the ability to deliver a quicker ball with accuracy and swing.

The nephew of legendary South African cricketer Graeme Pollock and the son of former South African fast bowler Peter Pollock, expectations from him were high since he started playing for South Africa in 1995/96, in their home series against England. He cemented his place in the team with some excellent performances and found a steady bowling partner in Allan Donald. They were to be the mainstay of South African bowling till Donald's retirement.

Pollock was also a very useful hard-hitting batsman, whose style bears some resemblance to his famous uncle on occasions. He has normally batted at 7 or 8, with a Test average of over 30 and ODI average above 25. He is also an athletic fielder. After Hansie Cronje was banned from cricket for life, Pollock took over the captaincy in April 2000. He had the task of boosting the morale of the team in the aftermath of the match-fixing scandal. After getting off to a good start as a captain he faced some disappointing series losses in his tenure. He was eventually removed from the captaincy after South Africa's poor performance in the 2003 Cricket World Cup, a tournament that they were amongst the favourites to win as the host nation. Current captain Graeme Smith took over the job.

Although no longer captain, he retained his place in the team. After a disappointing Test series tour of Australia in 2005/2006, he faced criticism for losing his wicket taking ability. He has the lowest (best) economy rate of any bowler to have taken 300 ODI wickets, and he is also the first South African and only the tenth player to take 400 Test wickets. However, minor injuries hampered his performances towards the end of his career, and in September 2007 he was dropped from the South African test side for the first time in his career. Pollock was later readded to the test series against the West Indies, whereupon he announced his retirement, effective on 3 February 2008. He stated that "I realise I have been blessed by God and feel I have nurtured my talents to the best of my abilities." After South Africa sealed a series victory against the West Indies, Graeme Smith paid tribute to Pollock, stating "It's very important that people celebrate what he's given to South African cricket and what he's achieved as an individual." Shaun Pollock recently represented Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, and Durham Dynamos in the 2008 Twenty20 Cup in England.

He is friends with golf icon Gary Player and regularly plays in the Gary Player Invitational charity golf series to help raise funds for underprivileged children.

Shaun Pollock has commentated on Sky Sports and Test Match Special on the BBC during the 2009 England vs South Africa Test Series.

Career highlights

Pollock took four wickets in four balls on his first appearance for Warwickshire – in a limited-overs (B&H; Cup) game v Leicestershire at Birmingham in 1996. He also recently received the SA Player's Player award and the SA ODI Player of the Year Award.

He is joint 10th in the all time best ever bowler ratings in the LG ICC Ratings, and has taken over 400 wickets and at the time of his retirement was one of only six players to have scored 3000 runs and taken 300 wickets in Test matches.

He has also performed impressively in One Day International, consistently from 1997 to 2001. The year 2002 saw a little performance dip after which he performed excellently up until 2005 after which there was a second dip. Many said that Pollock would not recover from this but he did, in fact he reached his career-best LG ICC Bowling Rating of 920 in February 2006. He holds the 3rd highest career-best rating, 3 points behind the New Zealand bowler Richard Hadlee.

In June 2007 he represented an Africa XI in an ODI game against an Asia XI in Bangalore. Playing as a specialist batsman, Pollock scored 130 from number 7 in the batting order, the highest ever score by an ODI batsman in that position. The record would however not last long, MS Dhoni bettered it later in the series.

In Summer 2008 he played for Durham County Cricket Club in the North East of England along with fellow South African Albie Morkel used mainly in the Twenty20 Cup competition

Rankings

Shaun Pollock's career-best ranking and rating in the Cricket ratings as determined by the International Cricket Council are as follows:

Test Batting 37th (565).

Test Bowling 1st (909).

Test All-rounders 1st (489).

ODI Batting 34th (589).

ODI Bowling 1st (920)

ODI All-rounders best 1st (496).

Personal life

Pollock comes from a family of mainly Scottish ancestry. His paternal grandfather, Andrew Pollock, who played for Orange Free State, was born in Edinburgh. He is married to Patricia "Trish" Lauderdale and has two daughters, Jemma and Georgia. Jemma was born in August 2003, and Georgia in July 2006. Lauderdale was a finalist in the Miss South Africa pageant in the early '90s and also worked for MTN, a South African telecom company. He is a teetotaller. Pollock is a graduate of the University of Natal with a bachelor's degree in commerce. He is also a devout Christian.

References

External links

Cricinfo: Player profile

CricketArchive: Player profile

Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of the University of Natal Category:South Africa One Day International cricketers Category:South Africa Test cricketers Category:South Africa Twenty20 International cricketers Category:South African cricket captains Category:Dolphins cricketers Category:Durham cricketers Category:Kolpak cricketers Category:KwaZulu-Natal cricketers Category:Warwickshire cricketers Category:ACA African XI One Day International cricketers Category:ICC World XI One Day International cricketers Category:Wisden Cricketers of the Year Category:Anglo-African people Category:White South African people Category:Cricketers at the 1996 Cricket World Cup Category:Cricketers at the 1999 Cricket World Cup Category:Cricketers at the 2003 Cricket World Cup Category:Cricketers at the 1998 Commonwealth Games Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for South Africa Category:Mumbai (Indian Premier League) cricketers Category:People from Port Elizabeth

de:Shaun Pollock fr:Shaun Pollock mr:शॉन पोलॉक ta:ஷான் பொலொக்

Coordinates	53°25′″N18°26′″N
playername	Praveen Kumar
country	India
fullname	Praveen Kumar
living	true
dayofbirth	2
monthofbirth	10
yearofbirth	1986
placeofbirth	Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
countryofbirth	India
heightft	5
heightinch	11
heightm	1.8
batting	Right-hand batsman
bowling	Right-arm medium
role	Bowler
oneit20	true
international	true
testdebutdate	20 June
testdebutyear	2011
testdebutagainst	West Indies
testcap	268
lasttestdate	21 July
lasttestyear	2011
lasttestagainst	England
odidebutdate	18 November
odidebutyear	2007
odidebutagainst	Pakistan
odicap	170
lastodidate	13 June
lastodiyear	2011
lastodiagainst	West Indies
club1	Uttar Pradesh
year1	2004/05–present
club2	Royal Challengers Bangalore
year2	2008–2010
club3	Kings XI Punjab
year3	2011–present
deliveries	balls
columns	5
column1	Test
matches1	4
runs1	58
bat avg1	9.66
100s/50s1	0/0
top score1	26
deliveries1	1023
wickets1	18
bowl avg1	23.88
fivefor1	1
tenfor1	0
best bowling1	5/106
catches/stumpings1	2
column2	ODI
matches2	52
runs2	256
bat avg2	14.22
100s/50s2	0/1
top score2	54*
deliveries2	2,504
wickets2	62
bowl avg2	33.67
fivefor2	0
tenfor2	n/a
best bowling2	4/31
catches/stumpings2	11/–
column3	FC
matches3	42
runs3	1,488
bat avg3	24.00
100s/50s3	0/8
top score3	98
deliveries3	9,541
wickets3	190
bowl avg3	23.14
fivefor3	14
tenfor3	1
best bowling3	8/68
catches/stumpings3	8/–
column4	List A
matches4	103
runs4	1,256
bat avg4	21.28
100s/50s4	0/5
top score4	64
deliveries4	5,084
wickets4	148
bowl avg4	26.61
fivefor4	2
tenfor4	n/a
best bowling4	5/32
catches/stumpings4	19/–
date	26 July
year	2011
source	http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-india-2011/content/player/30732.html ESPNCricinfo }}

Praveen Kumar (, born 2 October 1986 in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India) is an Indian swing bowler who bowls medium pace. In first class cricket, he plays for Uttar Pradesh. He relies on his ability to swing the ball both ways along with line and length. He is most effective when given the new ball. Kumar is also considered as a pinch hitter with the bat. In domestic cricket, he has also opened the batting for his side.

Early domestic career

Praveen Kumar plays his domestic cricket for Uttar Pradesh. He made his first-class debut in 2007 and enjoyed success at this level by taking 26 wickets in 8 matches at an average of just 21.50. He has also excelled at the shorter version of the game at the list A level, taking 55 wickets in 35 matches.

Although he was not part of the player auction, Praveen played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League in the inaugural twenty20 cricket tournament. His services were bought for 300,000 USD. Kumar was counted towards Bangalore's U-23 quota. He bowled well even though the team did not reach the semi finals. He became the first medium pacer to claim a hat-trick in the third season of the IPL. He took the wickets of Damien Martyn, Narwal and Dogra to reach his hat-trick.He has tried as an opener once in his career however he failed to score runs.

Off the field issues

On 16 May 2008, it was reported that Praveen physically assaulted a doctor in his hometown of Meerut On August 6th, 2011, Kumar was reported to have initiated a verbal and physical attack on a group of fans at a warm-up match against Northampton. He had to be restrained by his fellow team-mates and security personnel.

References

External links

CricketArchive">Player Profile for Praveen Kumar from CricketArchive

Praveen Kumar joins list of Indians with 5 wicket haul at Lord's

Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:Uttar Pradesh cricketers Category:People from Meerut Category:India One Day International cricketers Category:India Twenty20 International cricketers Category:Indian Premier League cricketers Category:Bangalore cricketers Category:Central Zone cricketers Category:Cricketers at the 2011 Cricket World Cup

hi:प्रवीण कुमार ml:പ്രവീൺ കുമാർ mr:प्रवीण कुमार ta:பிரவீண் குமார்

Coordinates

53°25′″N18°26′″N

{{infobox cricketer | playername

Saqlain Mushtaq | image Saqlain_Mushtaq.jpg|250px | country Pakistan | fullname Saqlain Mushtaq | living true | dayofbirth 29 | monthofbirth 12 | yearofbirth 1976 | placeofbirth Lahore | countryofbirth Pakistan | batting Right-handed | bowling Right arm off break | international true | testdebutdate 8 September | testdebutyear 1995 | testdebutagainst Sri Lanka | testcap 134 | lasttestdate 1 April | lasttestyear 2004 | lasttestagainst India | odidebutdate 29 September | odidebutyear 1995 | odidebutagainst Sri Lanka | odicap 103 | lastodidate 7 October | lastodiyear 2003 | lastodiagainst South Africa | odishirt | club1 Pakistan Intl. Airlines | year1 1994–2004 | club2 Islamabad | year2 1994–1998 | club3 Surrey | year3 1997–2008 | club4 Lahore | year4 2003–2004 | club5 Sussex | year5 2007 | columns 4 | column1 Test | matches1 49 | runs1 927 | bat avg1 14.48 | 100s/50s1 1/2 | top score1 101* | deliveries1 14,070 | wickets1 208 | bowl avg1 29.83 | fivefor1 13 | tenfor1 3 | best bowling1 8/164 | catches/stumpings1 15/– | column2 ODI | matches2 169 | runs2 711 | bat avg2 11.85 | 100s/50s2 0/0 | top score2 37* | deliveries2 8,770 | wickets2 288 | bowl avg2 21.78 | fivefor2 6 | tenfor2 n/a | best bowling2 5/20 | catches/stumpings2 40/– | column3 FC | matches3 194 | runs3 3,405 | bat avg3 16.69 | 100s/50s3 1/14 | top score3 101* | deliveries3 44,634 | wickets3 833 | bowl avg3 23.56 | fivefor3 60 | tenfor3 15 | best bowling3 8/65 | catches/stumpings3 67/– | column4 LA | matches4 323 | runs4 1,339 | bat avg4 11.64 | 100s/50s4 0/0 | top score4 38* | deliveries4 16,062 | wickets4 478 | bowl avg4 23.55 | fivefor4 7 | tenfor4 n/a | best bowling4 5/20 | catches/stumpings4 80/– | date 8 December | year 2009 | source http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/42628.html Cricinfo }}

Saqlain Mushtaq (Urdu: ثقلین مشتاق) (born December 29, 1976 in Lahore, Punjab) is a Pakistani cricketer, regarded as one of the finest off spin bowlers of all time. He is best known for pioneering the "doosra", which he employed to great effect during his career. Saqlain has not been active in international cricket since 2004.

Career

Saqlain made his international debut in September 1995 playing against Sri Lanka at Peshawar. He picked up four wickets at an average of 26.75 in the first test of the series. The highlight of his Test career came in the away series against India in January/February 1999, where he achieved his first ten wicket haul in a test match. In the first test, with India needing only 17 runs to win, Saqlain effectively sealed Pakistan's win by taking the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar who had scored 136. He ended the series with twenty wickets at an average of 20.15, which earned him the Man of the Series award.

Domestic career

Saqlain represented Surrey for eight successive seasons, from 1997 to 2004. However, his time there was interrupted and his international career with Pakistan effectively ended in 2004.

In August 2005, he played his first match after recovering from injury against Bangladesh A, and took 4-87 from 35 overs bowled over two innings. However that same week, in his return to the County Championship, he conceded 110 off 28 overs against Gloucestershire, taking just one wicket.

In February 2006, he signed for Ireland for the C&G; Trophy, along with fellow team mate Abdul Razzaq.

Later in February 2007, Sussex announced that Saqlain had signed a two-year contract with them. His initial requirement was to cover for fellow Pakistanis, Mushtaq Ahmed and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan who were part of Pakistan's World Cup campaign. On 26 September 2007, Saqlain was released by the county on his request. On 8 October 2007 Saqlain was re-signed by Surrey.

On 28 October, according to Cricinfo, he was released by Surrey.

In April 2009 he joined Old Whigiftians CC to play in the Surrey Championship. He took 64 wickets in his first season, including five 5 wicket hauls to earn Whits promotion to the first division. He was also involved in the youth game setup. In 2010, after relocating to Leicestershire, he joined Syston Town Cricket Club, playing in the Everards County League.

In late 2010, he was training in Taunton at the facilities of Somerset County Cricket Club, whom he has now joined as a temporary spin-bowling coach for the 2011 Caribbean Twenty20 competition.

Playing style

Saqlain is credited with the invention of the "doosra", an off-spinner's delivery which is bowled with an action very similar to that of an off-break. However, it spins in the opposite direction (i.e. from the leg side to the off side), easily confusing batsmen, making it a very effective weapon. Saqlain became well known for this variation ball, which was integral to his success, although he received criticism for overusing it.

His other variation was the arm-ball, which again uses a similar action to the off-break, but causes the ball to go straight on without turning.

During his time at Surrey, Saqlain worked on developing new deliveries which he called the "teesra" and the "chotha". However little else is known about these deliveries.

Records and achievements

Saqlain was selected as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year for 2000.

A statistical analysis conducted by Wisden in 2003 revealed Saqlain as the all-time greatest ODI spinner, and sixth greatest of all ODI bowlers.

Was the fastest to reach the milestones of 100, 150, 200 and 250 wickets in ODIs.

He was the first of only two spinners to have taken a hat-trick in an ODI (the other being Abdur Razzak), and the second of only four bowlers to have taken two ODI hat tricks (Wasim Akram, Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga being the others), the second of which was only the second hat-trick in a World Cup match.

Personal life

After marrying a British citizen, Saqlain gained a British passport, which made him eligible to play for England after a four-year qualification period that ended in April 2008.

References

External links

Cricinfo.com - Saqlain Mushtaq's Player Profile

Category:1976 births Category:Living people Category:Islamabad cricketers Category:Pakistan International Airlines cricketers Category:Pakistan One Day International cricketers Category:One Day International hat-trick takers Category:Pakistan Test cricketers Category:Cricketers at the 1996 Cricket World Cup Category:Cricketers at the 1999 Cricket World Cup Category:Cricketers at the 2003 Cricket World Cup Category:Surrey cricketers Category:Sussex cricketers Category:Ireland cricketers Category:Wisden Cricketers of the Year Category:English people of Pakistani descent Category:Lahore (Indian Cricket League) cricketers

bn:সাকলাইন মুশতাক ta:சக்லேன் முஸ்டாக்