Wasim Akram can`t wait to see six left-arm seamers in action when Australia and Pakistan clash Friday for a World Cup semi-final spot, but admits Mitchell Starc is his favourite exponent.
The Adelaide showdown promises a feast of left-arm pacemen with Australian spearhead Starc the leading wicket-taker in the World Cup with 16 victims in five matches.
Feared for his pace and bounce, Mitchell Johnson has taken nine wickets while James Faulkner has three in three games since returning from a side strain on March 4.
Pakistan`s left-armers are led by Wahab Riaz (14 wickets) ably assisted by Rahat Ali (eight) and Mohammad Irfan (seven).
Pakistan will hope Irfan recovers from a hip injury which forced him to sit out their last game against Ireland on Sunday. He didn`t bowl in Tuesday`s net session and awaits a scan on the injury before being assessed for Friday.
Left-arm fast bowling legend Wasim, part of the Pakistan team which won the country`s only World Cup title in 1992, said he is anxiously waiting for the showdown of lefties.
“It excites me no end,” Wasim told AFP. “When I used to play there were very few left-armers, it was a sort of novelty but imagine three on each side? I will be the most excited person at Adelaide Oval.”
As many as five left-arm pacemen have played in the same one-day international, the last being in Sharjah last December when Pakistan faced New Zealand.
Mitchell McClenaghan and Corey Anderson bowled for the Black Caps while Pakistan had Sohail Tanvir, Irfan and Riaz in their line-up.
