When Ishant Sharma started, he regularly topped 140 km/h, earning him induction into “fast bowler” category (above that much-hated “medium fast” that Zaheer must toil in). Since then, like all Indian bowlers, he’s fallen steadily, barely breaking 130 km/h against the South Africans in his first over.
Is this a big deal? Some argue control matters more than pace (nudge, nudge, Venkatesh Prasad), perhaps even more in India, where the unforgiving pitches slow down everything. But others argue that the slow wicket precisely demands someone who can hurry up batsmen.
With the South Africans including legitimate pacemen like Steyn and Morkel, we’ll see which side wins the debate.
