The exponential growth of left-arm spinners must rank among the striking differences in international cricket between the 20th and 21st centuries.
The proliferation of games has helped, but so has the rise of a clan that has become an integral part of the modern game. In only 23 years of this century, left-arm spinners have overhauled the aggregates of their predecessors from a hundred years between January 1901 and December 2000.
Overall, 194 left-arm spin bowlers had bowled in the previous century, amassing over 6000 international wickets at a trifling 77.2 strike rate. Since the turn of the century and the expansion to three formats, left-arm tweakers have doubled (408) in representation, aggregating over 13600 wickets across formats, with their strike rate halved to 43.5.
Bangladesh players gather around Shakib Al Hasan to celebrate the fall of a Pakistan wicket on Sunday during the first Test in Rawalpindi. (AP)
A closer understanding of the progression can be derived from the Test format. 169 left-arm spinners played in the previous century, claiming 4508 wickets at an 86.6 strike-rate. The figures have surged remarkably since 2001, with 120 left-arm spinners already accounting for 90.97 percent of wickets (4101) from the 20th century at an improved 70.5 strike rate.
Shakib Al Hasan has led the revolution of the left-arm spin tribe between the two contrasting periods in a nearly 17-year active career. Last Sunday in Rawalpindi, the Bangladeshi maverick surpassed Daniel Vettori to become the most successful left-arm spinner, soaring to 707 wickets in 444 international appearances.
Shakib ranks 16th in the all-time list and remains the solitary bowler to record at least 100 T20I, 200 Test and 300 ODI wickets. No other player has achieved a double of 14,000 runs and 700 wickets in internationals.
Only 10 bowlers have picked up at least 400 international wickets at home. The 37-year-old Shakib (415) ranks 10th on the list and has the third-highest percentage (58.69) of wickets at home, only behind R Ashwin (61.15) and Stuart Broad (60.09). That does not necessarily reduce Shakib’s effectiveness, having played in an underdog side throughout his career.
None have featured in more Bangladesh victories over the years. Shakib has played in 183 of his country’s 247 international wins, scoring 6347 runs (second-most) and totalling 336 wickets, the highest.
Shakib was part of 103 of Bangladesh’s 107 home victories and has nearly doubled the performance of the next-best batter and bowler from his team in overseas triumphs, recording 3220 runs and 134 wickets.
Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan exchanges greetings with Netherlands players during a practice session at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday. (PTI Photo)
Dissecting him by format, his efficacy barely takes a hit. Shakib stands fifth among all left-arm tweakers in Tests. He is one of just three from the group to cross 300 ODI wickets and is only seven short of surpassing Sanath Jayasuriya’s tally of 323 wickets. A wicket will make him only the third T20I bowler to reach 150 wickets.
Shakib’s unique strain of dominance may go unnoticed in Bangladesh’s mercurial performances over the years and his spate of controversies on and off the field have somewhat tarnished his legacy. Alleged involvement in a murder case back home has thrown the improbable twilight years of his career into further unpredictability.
Despite this wave of uncertainty, Shakib will remain a delight for the record books for decades as an unremitting all-rounder and undisputed man of action from the left-armers club.
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