Sultan of Swing - Waz, It Is!

Photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tfarrell/3720979898/">ToddBF</a> via <a href="https://visualhunt.com/re/72badf">Visual Hunt</a> / <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/"> CC BY</a>

The classic song by Dire Straits, not quite! However, an individual who considers himself as an Autodidact and a cricketer, who thrived, thanks to the support of the great cricketing minds, that played along with him!

Wasim Akram doesn't need much of an introduction, yet for the younger lot, or people who aren't ardent followers of the game, "Waz," as he is popularly known in the UK, is a retired Pakistani cricketer, who was an exponent of swing bowling across the Test and One Day International (ODI) formats. With 900+ wickets to his name, Wasim began his love affair with the sport in the streets and by-lanes of Lahore, playing tennis ball cricket. 

He was spotted by a club cricketer, and amazed people, with the amount of bounce and swing he'd get, while delivering an over on the paved streets. As Pakistani cricket was just about peaking, with the likes of Imran Khan, Mudassar Nazar, and Javed Miandad; Wasim (and later Waqar), joined the team, to create a pace attack, that would be the envy of a generation of cricket teams. 

Wasim relied on his swift high arm action, the scruff-ed old ball, and was extremely talented in using the ball to his advantage. He was able to judge how batsmen would play him early in the innings, when the ball was shining, and their response, even when the ball was scruff-ed up. 

With constant practice, he and his bowling partners, mastered the art of 'reverse swing,' which became lethal for batsmen of the highest caliber to play. Such was the class of Wasim, that he'd bowl different types of deliveries in one particular over, never allow batsmen to settle, and was always on the attack! 

Some good traits to learn: 

1. Raw Talent is amazing: It amazing to notice how one can make use of his/her talent in the initial days. The rawness, allows for polishing in the years ahead. 
2. Mentors are needed: Waz credits his mentors for guiding him towards greatness. Talent needs guidance, and exchange of ideas to hone good skills. Identifying good mentors is important.
3. Assess conditions and play to strengths: Wasim played for Lancashirecounty, for over a decade, mastered the English playing conditions and enjoyed meeting different people, from across the expanse of British Isles. That gave him the confidence to play at the highest level, assess conditions and tweak his game plan, while gaining in strength and experience.
4. Share knowledge: As Wasim's career progressed, he made it a point to share his trade, with people within the playing community. That made him a revered figure. Enhancing people's knowledge and sharing goodness is essential. 
5. Be a student, Always: In spite of being a great, Wasim never stopped learning new skills, which led to him mastering Test and ODIs for close to two decades. It's important to always return to the drawing board and reassess one's self. This allows to plan for the next line-of-action and facilitates in up-skilling an individual too! 

Wasim is, and shall be counted as one of the best attacking bowlers to have played the game. It was a delight to watch him in full flow, with Waqar, and gel up a team, that was passionate towards the game. 

"Waz" - Sultan of Swing, and match winner, no doubt! 

#CricketingGenuises by @harryrockerz