Legendary Australian bowler Dennis Lillee is still regarded as one of the best fast bowlers of all time. Lillee ended his cricket career as most wicket-taker in the longest format of the game in 1984. He was extremely quick, and somehow his attractive bowling action played a massive part in his successful career.
Not many in the modern-day cricket bowls with that much of pace as Lillee used to bowl, however, there is one bowler whose action does resemble the Australian great. He is none other than the young Pakistani pacer Naseem Shah.
Naseem is currently playing the three-match Test series opener against England at the Old Trafford in Manchester. During the second day’s play, when Naseem came to bowl, Pakistani fielders were heard addressing him as ‘Lillee Shah’.
The 17-year-old made his international debut last year in Australia and has impressed several cricketing experts with his raw pace. Since Naseem’s bowling action is quite similar to Lillee, he will undoubtedly be hoping to perform in his career exactly the way Australian had done during his glorious career.
Earlier, Pakistan skipper Azhar Ali won the toss and opted to bat first. His decision was taken well by opener Shan Masood (156) who smashed his Test career’s fourth century and played a significant role to bring Pakistan to 326. Apart from Masood, Babar Azam made a well 69 along with all-rounder Shadab Khan who contributed with his 45-run knock.
When it comes to bowling, Pakistan bundled out England for 219 on Day 3, thanks to leg-spinner Yasir Shah, who claimed four wickets. Apart from Yasir, Mohammad Abbas and Shadab Khan bagged two scalps each. While Shaheen Afridi and Naseem picked up one wicket.
Now, Pakistan would be hoping to ride on the advantage by winning the Test in order to take the early lead in the series.
