#360view: A welcome comeback for Amir at Lord's

Barnaby Read 23:41 15/07/2016
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  • Amir claimed the scalp of England captain Cook.

    On Friday, some 2,150 days after he last took the new ball at Lord’s, Mohammad Amir ran in at the home of cricket. And despite some poor fielding by his team-mates, Amir managed to add to his 51 Test wicket tally. It was a seminal moment for both player and sport, Amir’s return to Test action the stuff of box office.

    A Hollywood tale of redemption, Pakistan cricket’s prodigal son was back six years on from disgracing it alongside Salman Butt and Mohammad Asif, of all places on the hallowed turf of Lord’s.

    His first ball was typically greeted by a smattering of ‘no-ball’ cat calls from the Lord’s crowd, something Amir has dealt with, and likely still will for some time, frequently since he made his international comeback against New Zealand in January.

    It was unsurprising but was never going to last long, the handful of dissenters quickly returning to mere observers.

    The overwhelming reaction among supporters at Lord’s has actually been positive surrounding Amir’s return, most wanting to see him at his menacing best – albeit hopefully on the losing side.

    In the press box, Amir’s return has been mouth-watering stuff. Headlines have been dominated by his presence in the build-up to the series and will continue to be shaped by his presence whether he stars or flops.

    But again, most commentators are happy for Amir to be back among the thick of things.

    He is an extraordinary talent and despite his past crimes he has always been seen as the man misled rather than chief instigator.

    The naivety of youth has been his greatest defence since the cricketing world was rocked by the now defunct News of the World’s sting operation in 2010. It’s fair to say things could have been a whole lot different.

    Butt and Asif will never be greeted with open arms in as welcome fashion, should they return to the Pakistan setup.

    And as some experts noted, the reception afforded to Amir could have been a whole lot different had his first outing been at one of the other grounds in this series. At Old Trafford, Edgbaston and The Oval, crowds tend to be more hostile – spectators split more evenly compared to somewhere like Lord’s, which is predominantly made up of English support. It is a crowd polite to its core and to receive a guest with anything other than graciousness would be viewed as uncouth at this bastion of English sportsmanship.

    On his return, Amir understandably took time to get going. His pace was comfortably up in the mid to late 80mph mark.

    It is little wonder when you consider the emotions that must have been affecting Amir; the left-armer has been reminded of his history at this venue at every turn and has regularly recognised his good fortune at being given a second chance.

    He did get into a little more rhythm as the day wore on and was only denied a first wicket in his fourth over by the iron-clad hands of Mohammad Hafeez at first slip. It would have been a big one as well, England captain Alastair Cook the man obliging the edge to Amir outside off-stump.

    Fittingly in the capital city, Amir’s misfortune had the look of London buses as after lunch he saw a second opportunity come and go – Cook nicking behind but Sarfraz Ahmed this time shelling the chance.

    It added to Amir’s frustrations but, as has been the case throughout Pakistan’s stay in the UK thus far, he remained focused on the task at hand. He eventually snaffled Cook as the England opener chopped on, the relief as palpable as the delayed inevitable.

    More wickets will fall while the pressure and expectations will diminish over time. For now, Amir should enjoy his status as a welcome guest at Lord’s.

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