A devastating spell of quick bowling

In my column last week I wrote about the explosive potential of Shoaib Akhtar to provide some real entertainment. I couldn't have been more on the button.

He was sensational during the first test between Pakistan and Australia in Colombo earlier this week.

In the end, Australia won an intense match by 41 runs, with Shane Warne's brilliance claiming eleven wickets.

But if some of the senior Pakistani batsmen had taken some responsibility the tables could easily have been turned.

Let's get back to the Rawalpindi Express. Believe this if you can!

At lunch on day three, Australia went to the break wiyth Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden in total control - a lead of 233 runs with all ten second innings wickets in hand. Things could not have been more comfortable for Steve Waugh's men.

Soon afterwards, it was a case of look out!

Shaoib decided to change ends, and with the aid of a slight breeze, caused mayhem.

He instantly blew the Australians away with a spell of four wickets for four runs in eleven balls. He destroyed Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh and Adam Gilchrist with missiles in excess of 150kph.

I should say that Saqlain Mushtaq chipped in with another stick - Matthew Hayden - but I can't because umpire Steve Bucknor had a shocker and up went the finger.

Shoaib soon cleaned up Warne for a pair and finished the most devastating spell of quick bowling I've ever seen with 5/21.

Shoaib was scintillating and you could say he 'threw' everything at the Aussies.

My fellow commentator Jeff Thomson, who still holds the official record for the fastest ever delivery at 160,5 kph, in a controlled test in 1975, was full of praise.

Youy might be thinking, 'hang on', Akhtar was timed at 161kph against New Zealand last year. Yes, I will give you that, but the local speed gun equipment failed to pass muster.

'Thommo' was there to witness that delivery and swears it was not that as fast as that.

While I talk about 'Thommo', how's this for speed?

We were enjoying a couple of bitterly cold, brown starch tablets and he confirmed that he was at his quickest in the mid seventies and also authenticated a story I first heard many years ago.

During that period he remembers bowling two bouncers to some hapless batsmen that hit the sightscreen on the full!How's that for heat? Speaking of heat, we are here in Sharjah now for the last two tests of this 'neutral turf' series.

The daily celsius reading is a scorching 43 degrees... in the shade!

The Rawalpindi Express has an impressive record in this region, and when he's charging in at the Aussie batsmen the heat will be on... in more ways than one.