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Mohammad Aamer: Pressure is something that is Self Inflicted
by PakPassion.Net


Player:Mohammad Aamer
Event:Pakistan in England 2010

DateLine: 22nd August 2010

 

Teenage pace sensation and man of the match at the Oval, Mohammad Amir heaped praise on his coach Waqar Younis and new ball opening partner Mohammad Asif and stated that he felt that both had played key roles in his success.

 

Speaking to PakPassion.net ; Amir whose performances in international cricket have made him one of the most sought after cricketers in the world and whose ability and calmness belies his tender age of 18 also stated that pressure is something that is self created and not something that he worries too much about.

 

Whilst others around him succumbed to the tense atmosphere and pressure at the Oval as Pakistan closed in on victory, Amir displayed the kind of technique and calmness one would expect from a seasoned veteran, as he supported Umar Akmal and guided Pakistan to a four wicket victory.

 

"I don't really let pressure affect me at all. I believe that pressure is something that an individual creates for himself and it's something that you can avoid. I guess it's just down to the individual and the characteristics of an individual. I just go out there, relax, smile, enjoy myself, play my natural game, do what comes naturally to me and play my cricket according to the conditions and match situation. The more you worry about things when you are out there in the middle, the more problems you are going to encounter".

 

Amir's partnership with new ball partner Mohammad Asif has been widely acclaimed as one of the most threatening and contrasting new ball partnerships currently in world cricket, and the teenager heaped well deserved praise on his new ball partner Asif.

 

"He's a fantastic guy to bowl in tandem with. He's such a threatening bowler, a wicket taker, someone who has the ability to take a wicket with every delivery. He never gives the opposition batsmen any respite and is such a brilliant team player who will bowl according to any situation, or in such a way that the team requires him to bowl. He's so accurate and rarely gives the batsmen any easy opportunities to score off him. His nagging accuracy and skill really helps me and I think we compliment each other very well."

 

Amir who attained career best innings figures in test cricket at the Oval when he took five for fifty two, also spoke of his joy at working with legendary fast bowler and current Pakistan team coach Waqar Younis, as well as bowling coach Aaqib Javed.

 

"Both Waqar and Aaqib have really helped me improve as a bowler. They guide me quite literally session by session. They will sit down and talk to me at the end of each session when I have been bowling and explain to me what I did well and what I didn't do well in the completed session of cricket. In addition they will talk to me about the upcoming session and what is required of me. They are of great help to me and I believe that I can only improve as a bowler with guys like Waqar and Aaqib around me."

 

Amir feels that he still has a lot to learn and is working with his coaches on a number of areas of his game. Amongst the technical areas that he is looking at, is trying to get closer to the stumps when delivering the ball.

 

"Waqar has told me that I need to get closer to the stumps when I am bowling. We have been working on this issue in the nets and in practice situations. In practice I do get close to the stumps, but I have to be honest, in match situations sometimes I overlook this. I'm sure with further experience this is something I can address."

 

There have been calls from several former Pakistan players that Amir's workload needs to be managed and that he should be rested for certain matches. However Amir doesn't seem to be too keen on the idea of sitting on the sidelines and watching his team mates in action.

 

"The more cricket I play, the more I learn, the more experience I gain and ultimately that improves my game. If I feel I am bowling well, feeling fit and in good rhythm then I don't want to miss any matches, as that will affect my rhythm in the next match that I will play in."

 

Amir has certainly enjoyed bowling in the bowler friendly conditions of England through this summer and added that bowling in England against two of the world's best team's has been a formiddable challenge for him. He does feel though that the Australian batting lineup is marginally stronger than the English lineup when comparing the two sets of batsmen in all conditions.

 

"The Australian batting lineup is a really powerful one and I would say marginally stronger than England's batting lineup when we are comparing them on all types of pitches and conditions. That is not meant in a disrespectful way towards the England team, but it's just that the Australian lineup is such a renowned, powerful and experienced lineup. The England batting lineup though is really powerful in home conditions and are used to playing on seaming and swinging conditions. Both of our opponents this summer are very difficult to beat in their home conditions and it's been a complete and thorough test for us."

 

Amir who will be targetting the fifty wicket landmark at Lords feels that the win today at the Oval will really boost the confidence of the Pakistan team going into the last match of the four match series at Lords.

 

"It's great to be going into the final match at Lords with some momentum. It was such an important victory for us and keeps us in the series. We'll be going all out for victory at Lords."

 

Amir added that every test wicket, every test catch and every test run was important to him and that he cherishes all of them, although he feels that it's important not for him to get overawed by more illustrious opponents.

 

"There's no such thing as a favourite dismissal, catch or shot for me. There are no easy pickings in international cricket, you have to work for every wicket, every run and every catch. It's a thorough test and you have to really work for your success. However I feel it's important not to get overawed even as a youngster and let the opposition attempt to intimidate you. I have come up against some of the world's biggest names in cricket and I don't feel intimidated by them."

 

On and off the field Amir is showing the type of mature attitude and thinking that makes one wonder if he really has only been on the international cricketing scene for just over a year. His method and cricketing outlook though is a simple one, where he feels its important to stick to basics.

 

"I don't want to overexperiment and prefer to stick to the basics. I feel that if I try too many different things and experiment too much, then that affects the quality of my cricket. My philosophy is to keep it simple and stick to the basics instead of trying to be too clever."

 

Amir will be looking to continue his good form this summer and he and his team mates will be looking to level the series at Lords when they take on England in the fourth and final test which commences on Thursday.

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
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