Varun Aaron: fast, but not fearsome

[rkt.india]

Varun Aaron is quick. On Wednesday at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium, he maintained an average speed of 88.2mph, and his fastest delivery clocked 93.2mph on the speedgun. That's 149.99kph. India have a fast bowler. A genuinely fast bowler. It wouldn't be inaccurate to say that the selectors gave Aaron a chance to play for India solely because he was quick. He made his ODI debut in October 2011 and his Test debut a month later. At that point, he had taken 26 first-class wickets in 12 matches at an average of 41.50. His last first-class match before his international debut was for Rest of India against Rajasthan. In that match, he took one wicket for 117 runs in 42 overs. He didn't have the numbers in first-class cricket to suggest he could take wickets at the international level. He had, however, sent the speedgun needle into previously largely uncharted territory for Indian fast bowlers. You could legitimately label him "right arm fast". On Wednesday, Aaron came on with Bangladesh 40 for 1 in 11 overs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami had bowled tight first spells, and each of them had produced edges that flew through gaps in the slip cordon. There was little in the pitch to enthuse the seamers, but they had kept the batsmen under pressure. Aaron immediately released it with his first two balls, wide half-volleys that left-hand batsman Mominul Haque drove handsomely for fours. This was a portent of what was to come, although it wasn't immediately apparent, after R Ashwin dismissed Mominul at the other end and Aaron bowled a quiet second over. You could tell even then, though, that he wasn't really worrying Anamul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim. His length wasn't asking them any difficult questions, and both batsmen came forward and drove him confidently. For now, they were hitting to the fielders. What came next was unexpected. Out of nowhere, in Aaron's third over, Anamul jumped down the track and clattered him over long-on for six. In his fifth over, Anamul charged him again. Aaron banged the ball in short. Anamul swatted it for six. Later in the over Aaron served up another half-volley. Anamul clumped it back past him for four. Aaron was bowling fast, but there was no extra ingredient - no cunning and no intimidation either. Even that can work sometimes, if you bowl fast and attack the stumps, but Aaron's default line was fifth or even sixth stump. When he came back on later in the innings, in the 37th over, Aaron dismissed Anamul, bowled off his inside edge, but only after he had struck two more fours, the second a slash past point off a high full-toss that was called no-ball. In his next over, the high full-toss made another appearance, seemingly slipping out of his fingers and striking Mushfiqur Rahim a painful blow on the chest. The second offence meant he had to go out of the attack. It was unlikely he would have done any more bowling after that over anyway. Before being struck by that beamer, Mushfiqur had spanked Aaron for two more fours and a six. All of that had left him with figures of 1 for 74 in 7.5 overs. This was the second time that Aaron had gone for more than eight runs an over in an ODI, and this was just his eighth match. His career economy rate had now spiked to 6.64. India's excitement with Aaron's pace is understandable. It's a precious resource. And he has improved his bowling to the extent that he has enjoyed his best ever first-class season after recovering from recurring back injuries. But he still seems unsure of what exactly he's trying to do when he bowls at the international level. It has been the same case with Umesh Yadav, and it's hard to tell if either of them is getting the guidance they need to make the most of their talent. It's hard to tell if any of India's young fast bowlers are getting this. Aaron's spell in Fatullah was the 12th instance of an Indian fast bowler conceding eight or more runs per over in an ODI spell of six or more overs since the start of 2013. Umesh Yadav and Mohit Sharma appear once each on that list. Vinay Kumar and Mohammed Shami, like Aaron, have two entries each, while Ishant Sharma features a staggering four times. All of this, remember, has happened in the last 14 months. In that period, India's batsmen have been made to chase 300-plus targets eight times. They've been made to do it not just in Jaipur, Nagpur and Rajkot but also in Johannesburg, Kingston and Wellington. Despite Aaron's waywardness, their target in Fatullah was "only" 280 and they got home without too much fuss. It's what Virat Kohli does. But he must wish sometimes that he didn't have to do it so often. He will wish he won't have to keep doing it in this tournament. MS Dhoni isn't around to help him.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/asia-cup-2014/content/story/723445.html

[jhakati]

Fast but crap.

[thongale]

He's bloody fearsome, because even he doesn't know when that 145k beamer pops up.

[SLICKR392]

It wouldn't be inaccurate to say that the selectors gave Aaron a chance to play for India solely because he was quick.

But ICF did.

Despite Aaron's waywardness, their target in Fatullah was "only" 280 and they got home without too much fuss. It's what Virat Kohli does. But he must wish sometimes that he didn't have to do it so often. He will wish he won't have to keep doing it in this tournament. MS Dhoni isn't around to help him.

Could have restricted them for 240 or even less had Aaron picked wickets from the other end, but he was too frustrated and busy bowling beamers at the poor batsman. Hope he amends his mistake against SL.

[Lord]

But ICF did. Could have restricted them for 240 or even less had Aaron picked wickets from the other end, but he was too frustrated and busy bowling beamers at the poor batsman. Hope he amends his mistake against SL.

I would play Pandey

[TNAmarkFrmIndia]

Good article. Neither Aaron nor Yadav seem to have the skill or the brain to be able to get wickets in the ODI format and intimidate batsmen with their pace (besides bowling beamers). They need proper mentoring.

[jhakati]

Aaron shouldn't play vs. SL he'll be slaughtered.

[nsareen]

i feel sick seeing some of the comments, and specially the guy who wrote that article should get a kick in the back side, people like these are the reason, india is struggling to get fast bowlers. I've seen, Brett Lee, Mitch Johnson, Anderson get beaten senseless, but they were persisted with, because they had the skill which HARDLY 10% of the bowlers in the WORLD have and that's PACE.... Hope this varun guy learns more skills and PROVES PEOPLE WRITING CRAP HERE that such big loosers they are...

[SLICKR392]

i feel sick seeing some of the comments' date=' and specially the guy who wrote that article should get a kick in the back side, people like these are the reason, india is struggling to get fast bowlers. I've seen, Brett Lee, Mitch Johnson, A[b']nderson get beaten senseless, but they were persisted with, because they had the skill which HARDLY 10% of the bowlers in the WORLD have and that's PACE.... Hope this varun guy learns more skills and PROVES PEOPLE WRITING CRAP HERE that such big loosers they are...

How many of us have asked him to be dropped? He should improve; is what others are trying to suggest.

[nsareen]

How many of us have asked him to be dropped? He should improve; is what others are trying to suggest.

i'm not singling out this thread, there are tons of threads here and in the padosi forums trying to make a laughing stock of the Poor Guy.. I sympathise with him, i also agree he did not bowl well, but i also believe he would be the 1st person to acknowledge he did not bowl well. In any profession you have a bad day, but what you learn is important, if Ishant after being CRAP for so long can be given so much time, why not Varun!!!

[jhakati]

i feel sick seeing some of the comments, and specially the guy who wrote that article should get a kick in the back side, people like these are the reason, india is struggling to get fast bowlers. I've seen, Brett Lee, Mitch Johnson, Anderson get beaten senseless, but they were persisted with, because they had the skill which HARDLY 10% of the bowlers in the WORLD have and that's PACE.... Hope this varun guy learns more skills and PROVES PEOPLE WRITING CRAP HERE that such big loosers they are...

Hahaha you comparing brett lee to aaron, cmon man aaron is joke even his domestic record is horrible, he doesn't deserve a place in the side.

[India-KXIP fan]

Varun needs more chances, needs to be given full backing by Kohli and start all games regardless of his figures.

[jhakati]

Its ridiculous this guy was ever picked to play for India, shocking selection.

[Blue Star]

i feel sick seeing some of the comments, and specially the guy who wrote that article should get a kick in the back side, people like these are the reason, india is struggling to get fast bowlers. I've seen, Brett Lee, Mitch Johnson, Anderson get beaten senseless, but they were persisted with, because they had the skill which HARDLY 10% of the bowlers in the WORLD have and that's PACE.... Hope this varun guy learns more skills and PROVES PEOPLE WRITING CRAP HERE that such big loosers they are...

:two_thumbs_up: sahi bola. These losers have no idea what it takes to be a fast bowler.

[jhakati]

:two_thumbs_up: sahi bola. These losers have no idea what it takes to be a fast bowler.

I think only gully cricketers think bowling is all about pace. Anyone who has played the game at a higher level knows pace is just one factor. Aaron has pace but nothing else, he is garbage.

[nsareen]

I think only gully cricketers think bowling is all about pace. Anyone who has played the game at a higher level knows pace is just one factor. Aaron has pace but nothing else, he is garbage.

your comments look more garbage to me.. Anyways not everyone is expected to have the knowledge of fast bowling, so you are excused for making lame statements.. satisfy yourself...

[Blue Star]

I think only gully cricketers think bowling is all about pace. Anyone who has played the game at a higher level knows pace is just one factor. Aaron has pace but nothing else, he is garbage.

yo, jakathi. Ever tried bowling fast in your life? Not everyone can bowl fast, it needs attitude and the willingness to put in too much effort to bowl fast. Yes, pace is one factor but it is a very very important factor if you want to be a world class bowler. Y don't you read what wasim has said about his early days in his career? He just knew to bowl fast, nothing else. It took him 2,3 years in international cricket to learn the tricks and trades in cricket. It will take some time for varun as well, he has played just 8 Odis so far and you folks just want his head on the platter for erring in one match on the flattest track in the world. With this attitude we can never ever produce a fast bowler. We deserve Vinay Kumar, mithun, dinda, ishanth. I give up and I'm not gonna reply you either. Adios.

[CG]

2-3 Matches are not enough for any young bowler.They need to be given at least 10-15 matches and then see where they are going.Aaron is cricketer who works on his game and bowling and he has all the attributes required to do well at this level .I am looking forward to watch how he develops.

[Sean Bradley]

In a country where we have never produced tear away fast bowlers, comes a guy who has the ability to bowl 150 kms, one bad performance and everyone including the media is all over him. Give him time to settle, if Rohit Sharma can be persisted with, with dismal performances and numbers over 100 ODI's, why a bowler with potential be written off with such lame articles? Look we have to respect Varuns pace and give him benefit of doubt. There are two ways to look at it, bangladeshis smashing varun all over the place, makes him a bad bowler, or even bangladeshis smashing varun at 149 ks with ease, so the conditions where pace on the bat was just ideal for hitting with no sideways movement. Either ways, too soon to pass a judgement on youngster. Some criticism is fine, but too early to write him off.

[jhakati]

your comments look more garbage to me.. Anyways not everyone is expected to have the knowledge of fast bowling' date=' so you are excused for making lame statements.. satisfy yourself...[/quote'] Cmon don't fool yourself, in the name of giving aaron chances he'll have played 100 games and lost India most of those.