Back from the periphery

If you went solely by the amount of column inches and television soundbites he generated in his absence, you wouldn't think Shoaib Akhtar hadn't played a game for Pakistan for a few days shy of seven months.

Until he reappeared at Bristol for Pakistan's Twenty20 international against England, he hadn't worn a Pakistan shirt since playing the heavy back-up to Mohammad Asif and Abdul Razzaq (short on wickets, big on threat) against India in Karachi in January. Six Tests and ten ODIs have been missed in the interim; longstanding ankle injuries melting into career-threatening knee problems, all played out amidst the decidedly soap opera backdrop of gossip, chit-chat and speculation about his action, missing training sessions, his relationship with members of the team.

And yet, apart from a fledgling ponytail, his performances in the first two ODIs against England over the last week also suggest he hasn't been away at all. From the very first over he bowled, in which Andrew Strauss was lucky to survive an LBW appeal, Shoaib's comeback has been remarkably fluid, picking up immediately from his finest winter as a bowler.

Nearly every over since has carried a very potent and tangible threat. He's been seriously quick, though he claims, with no irony, that he has yet to reach top pace. He's been fantastically on the spot and fit enough to bowl at least two spells at premium pace. And in those spells, he's brought out the smarts; outswing first up and reverse swing later on, interrupted by good length balls, bouncers, slower balls and, of course, yorkers. Top-order batsmen such as Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss have been hounded relentlessly and tailenders haven't stood a chance. Seven wickets and a man-of-the-match starring role at Lord's, Shoaib has been everything a fast bowler should be.

He's got some sense of timing too clearly. Over the last couple of years, injuries and a potpourri of other factors have meant that Shoaib has been a peripheral figure in Pakistan's rise as an one-day side. He hasn't been poor by any means (35 wickets in 25 ODIs since June 2004), it's just that he has hardly been there. For much of that period though Pakistan have rarely missed him. Rana Naved-ul-Hasan has been there, Mohammad Asif is now around, just behind them is Umar Gul and even Mohammad Sami has chipped in on occasion; allied to a battery of all-rounders, Pakistan's ODI side has bubbled along rather comfortably.

Their first real jolt came in the 4-1 loss to India earlier in the year. With Shoaib absent Pakistan were unable to bowl out a strong batting line in any of the five matches. But now, with the Champions Trophy imminent and the World Cup only a little less so, Shoaib couldn't have picked a better time to return. With Asif finding an enviable groove, Naved-ul-Hasan slowly returning to full fitness, not many countries can currently boast of better ODI pace attacks.

What he said "I was just trying to bowl in the right areas. As far as I'm concerned, I'm still working on my fitness. I'm putting the ball in the right areas and things are going my way. I should be bowling at around 95mph, that's my average, but I'm lacking match practice to be honest. I'm not match fit but my goals are really high and I'm thinking ahead towards the World Cup. I should be nice and fit by the Champions Trophy then we can look forward."

What they said
"When you bring back the likes of Shoaib it's always going to be tough as you're playing against one of the best bowlers in the world." Marcus Trescothick after Shoaib's return to the ODI side.

What they also said
"At best he's been very, very silly. To do that in the present climate is stupid." Nasser Hussain voices his opinion after images from Sky Sports appeared to show Akhtar flicking his thumb at the ball as he walked back to his mark during the third ODI against England at The Rose Bowl.