Watch: Playing in his second Test match, Imran Khan Jr bowled a vicious reverse-swinging delivery to send Michael Clarke’s middle stump flying.

Imran Khan Jr was born in Karachi in 1987, the same year his illustrious namesake retired from cricket, only to be convinced to make a subsequent comeback.

He debuted for Pakistan when they ‘hosted’ Australia in the UAE, in 2014/15. He bowled Brad Haddin and Chris Rogers on debut, in Dubai, as Zulfiqar Babar and Yasir Shah spun Pakistan to a 221-run win after Younis Khan got a hundred in each innings.

Younis piled 213 in the next Test match, in Abu Dhabi, while Azhar Ali made 109 and Misbah-ul-Haq 101, and Pakistan declared on 570-6. Imran got Rogers again, caught behind, and Australia were soon left reeling at 100-5.

Michael Clarke (47) and Mitchell Marsh (87) pushed the score to 164 when Imran ran in again, to bowl at Clarke. The ball started just outside off but swung back into Clarke, making its way through his defence to send the middle stump cartwheeling.

The dismissal evoked memories from four seasons ago, when Imran’s compatriot Mohammad Asif had knocked out the middle-stump to dismiss Clarke.

Imran later had Marsh caught at mid-on for 87. He finished with 3-60 as Australia collapsed to 261. Misbah batted again, and declared the innings closed on 293-3, but not before several records were set.

Misbah, often ridiculed by fans for his defensive batting, equalled Viv Richards’ record for the fastest hundred, reaching the milestone in 56 balls. He made 101 not out, emulating Duleep Mendis in scoring two identical three-digit scores in the same Test match.

Azhar remained unbeaten on 100 as well. He and Misbah became the second set of teammates, after Ian and Greg Chappell, to score two hundreds in a Test match.

Chasing 603, Australia collapsed to 293 against Babar (5-120) and Yasir (3-44). Imran went wicketless. In all, he played 10 Test matches, taking 29 wickets at 31.62.

His career did have an oddity: it took him eight matches to score his first run in Test cricket. In the first seven, he had six times, making four ducks and two zero not outs.

Watch Imran Khan Jr bowl Michael Clarke:

🇵🇰 29 wickets in 10 Tests for Pakistan
☝️ 385 first-class wickets

Happy birthday to right-arm fast bowler @ImeeK218 🎂 pic.twitter.com/xAxV3zGG32

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) July 15, 2023