Mohammad Amir has a bit of Andy Roberts in him, says English coach

LONDON (92 News) – As a left-arm fast bowler, Mohammad Amir is often compared to Pakistan predecessor Wasim Akram. But having seen Amir close up during Pakistan's opening match of their England tour, Somerset coach Matthew Maynard was struck by a likeness to a fast bowler from an earlier generation than Akram in 1970's West Indies great Andy Roberts. He said that right-arm bowler Roberts was known for sheer speed as well as for his ability to bowl a second bouncer that was markedly quicker than the first one a batsman had received. "He (Amir) was swinging it massive in the first innings, proper late big swing. He's a threat, he always has been, hasn't he? He's got that pace, he's wiry, he's got a change-up, you don't see that too often these days," Maynard said on Thursday (July 7). "He's someone who almost bowls at 90 percent, 95 percent of his capabilities and then he throws that 100 percenter in, that change of pace up, like the old great Andy Roberts. We don't see that as often these days," he added. They may have very different delivery actions, but having witnessed Amir mark his return to first-class cricket in England with three for 36 in Somerset's first innings, Maynard was clear the 24-year-old had something of Roberts's bowling intelligence about him. Maynard also reserved a few good words for Yasir, who he felt 'hardly bowled a bad ball'. Shah's four-wicket haul in the second essay was nearly enough to script a dramatic victory for the visitors before Jack Leach and Tim Groenaweld, Somerset's No. 9 and 10 batsmen, shut shop to see out the last three overs.