In When We Were Kings Spike Lee talks about how kids these days don’t know anything about recent history.
I think he is right.
Paul Adams was the frog in a blender, or a midget, wearing a bunny suit, trying to fling its head at you with a shoulder jerk so savage that it could kill the average ostrich.
Everyone remembers that.
Not everyone remembers that batsman had all sorts of problems playing him when he first came on the scene.
At first it was just the action, batsman couldn’t work out where the hell the ball was coming from.
Then when they worked that out, they still had to deal with his wrong un, which no one could pick.
The Australians picked up that when he bowled his wrong un, he flighted it, and when he bowled his stock leggie, he darted it.
From there, almost everyone in world cricket worked him out.
In his first year of One day cricket he took 12 wickets @ 19 from 7 matches.
For the rest of his career he took 17 wickets @ 34 from 17 matches.
I personally believe Paul Adams was a good bowler, but once he was no longer a mystery South Africa got rid of him.
Oh and Paul Adams played 5 tests against India.
5 matches, 23 wickets @ 23 with a best of 6/55.
This record was in 96/97, before he was understood, which explains why he is the only wrist spinner of recent times with a really great record against India.
Okay, I’m not gonna get into a spinner-off with you, because I’m certain I’ll lose. But I’m pretty sure Paul Adams’ career went nowhere because his head disappears under his armpit halfway through his bowling action. There’s just no way you can enough control that way to be an efficient bowler of any kind.You’re right, chances are Mendis ends up being another bust. Most spinners are. It’s a hard fucking gig! You would know.But his starting point is so much higher than any other recent spinner’s, it just makes one wonder… it’s like seeing an 18-year-old LeBron James.
‘Mystery is temporary, mastery is permanent’I have to say, even if Mendis is nowhere to be seen in 18 months’ time, the excitement he is causing now is almost enough reward.It’s also interesting how many of those getting excited by Mendis are those who may soon be cursing him as he rips through their country’s order. It goes to show that there are some things in cricket which everyone recognises as special – and a magical new spinner is certainly one of them (as anyone who saw Shane Warne’s first ball in the Ashes can surely testify).I know, Jrod, that you’re guarding against future disappointment (as well as, no doubt, putting some ‘told you so’ money in the bank for later), but allow us our dreams…
quote from cricinfo:’We couldn’t pick Mendis’ – Dhoniwell of course they couldn’t pick him –he plays for sri lankazing
shane warne’s first ashes ball was entirely different to mendis’ effort, though just as exciting.the difference was warne beat gatting with his stock ball.gatting picked it, he just couldn’t handle the drift and turn.a good spinner gets wickets with his stock ball.
Excuse me if I’m wrong here guys. Wasn’t the whole confusion deal with Paul Adams because unlike most Chinamen his stock ball was the Wrong’un? From what I remember (and I mat be way off base) his unusual action was a product of him trying get his shoulder/wrist in a position to bowl the wrong ‘un.He confused batsmen because they initially expected the ball to go from off to leg for the righties but went the other way and coupled with the crazy action hijinks ensued.From memory his stock leggie/chinaman didn’t really turn all that much either
DS, While the head disappearing had something to do with it, that never mattered while he was unpickable.AP, believe it or not, I am just as excited about his deliveries as anyone, but it’s the talk of him being the biggest wicket taker of all time that i am against. D train, There were times that Adams bowled Wrong uns non stop, and times when he bowled leggies non stop. The leggies didn’t spin much, but enough. He was a better bowler when he bowled leggies for a while and then threw in the odd googly, when he bowled googlies non stop he was like an average left arm orthodox bowler.
Oh and DS, I saw LeBron playing high school ball when i was in America. He didn’t play hard enough of defence.
Uncle J – I am the only one whose doing the “leading wicket taker” talk and as AP mentions the “told you so money in the bank” – i’m doing the same thing. Only my investment will sho returns in 10 years ;-)I don’t think the rest have talked abt how he would go on to become the leading wicket taker.My statement is just to show how excited I am abt Mendis.But I have to give it to you – the whole post is abt Adams without a single mention of Mendis even though we know why this post came up – keep rocking Uncle J!