It was on his second tour of England in 1996 that Mushtaq Ahmed announced himself as a world-class leg spinner. In 1997, he was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year.
Mushtaq’s Test career continued until 2003; in 52 matches he took 185 wickets at 32.97. In that year he joined his second county, Sussex, and became one of the most successful bowlers in the modern history of the Championship.
By taking 45 wickets in six Tests for Pakistan between November 1995 and August 1996, Mushtaq Ahmed confirmed his status as the final member – alongside Shane Warne and Anil Kumble – of a glittering triumvirate of wrist-spinners who adorn the modern game. Mushtaq is the most enchanting of the lot.
Warne’s success stems from prodigious spin and accuracy, Kumble’s from prodigious bounce and accuracy; like superbly schooled sheepdogs, both pen batsmen down before picking them off with clinical ruthlessness. Mushtaq prefers to lure batsmen to their end in the traditional manner. He is the arch-deceiver, possessing every nefarious variation in the wrist-spinner’s armoury. Unlike the others, he has a googly which is indecipherable to most international batsmen. His instincts are to outwit opponents rather than wear them down.
He is the most impetuous of the trio, which is often betrayed by the frenzied nature of his appealing. He cannot hide his exasperation when a batsman thrusts his front leg down the pitch in the pretence of playing a shot without being penalised by umpires, who are often equally bamboozled by his spin.
But a 40-over spell from Mushtaq is never dull; every over is an adventure. One of his ambitions is to take 100 wickets in a season for Somerset – his best haul so far is 92. He is also the most entertaining of tailenders, who once won a Test with his bat, when he added 57 with Inzamam-ul-Haq for the last wicket to defeat Australia in Karachi in 1994-95. His batting, like his motoring, should be keenly observed; it is erratic and potentially destructive.
