Darren Gough: “Two of my heroes were Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. I copied them with my yorkers and my action was very similar to Waqar”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former England seamer Darren Gough has revealed that he modelled his yorker on that of legendary Pakistan fast bowlers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.
Wasim and Waqar were renowned for having deadly yorkers that were unplayable and subsequently took many wickets utilising this exact delivery.
Wasim represented Pakistan in 104 Tests and took 414 wickets at an average of 23.62.
He is also the second-highest wicket-taker in ODI history, claiming 502 wickets in 356 matches at an average of 23.52.
As for Waqar, he picked up 373 wickets in 87 Tests at an average of 23.56.
He also featured in 262 ODIs and snapped up 416 wickets at an average of 23.84.
“Two of my heroes were Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. I copied them with my yorkers and my action was very similar to Waqar,” Gough, who was recently named head coach of the Lahore Qalandars, was quoted as saying by respected journalist Saj Sadiq on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The Pakistan team recently toured Australia for a limited overs series and triumphed 2-1 in the ODIs before losing the T20Is 3-0.
They then travelled to Zimbabwe and won both the ODI and T20I series 2-1.
Currently, the men in green are in South Africa and lost the T20I series 2-0 before bouncing back to secure a 3-0 victory in the ODIs.
In the ongoing two-Test series, the Proteas hold a 2-0 lead after winning the 1st Test in Centurion by two wickets.
The 2nd Test will get underway on January 3 in Cape Town.
Pakistan Squad for South Africa T20I Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain and wicketkeeper), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper)
Pakistan Squad for South Africa Test Series: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel (vice-captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan (wicketkeeper), Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha
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