Need for speed

After injury and alleged indiscipline had stalled some of his early progress, Shoaib Akhtar had announced his arrival as a fast bowler of some menace in a Test match against India at Eden Gardens. Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar were among his victims that day, and there was an anticipatory buzz as he strode to the top of his run-up on his World Cup debut, against West Indies. Pakistan had made 229 and needed an early breakthrough or two to win their opening game.

While some expected a searing yorker first up, Shoaib opted for the other extreme, a bouncer so quick that Sherwin Campbell barely saw it. He was belatedly into the hook, but the ball had hurried on so quickly that it took the top edge. As his team-mates and an awestruck crowd watched, the ball soared over third man for six. Instead of any celebratory antics, Campbell looked like a man who'd just found himself on the railway track, with an onrushing locomotive just yards away.

"Akhtar is the show-stopper", said the red-topped Sun, while the Daily Express joined in with "Shoaib speed gives Akram the armoury". The fact that he was the most expensive bowler with 2 for 54 from 9.5 overs barely mattered.

Campbell didn't stay around long enough to enjoy his good fortune. In Shoaib's next over, another express delivery cannoned into the top of middle stump, even as Campbell was trying to being the bat down. And though Australia demolished them in the final, Pakistan had unearthed one of the stars of the competition.