Zaheer Abbas, the run machine
In 1971 Zaheer Abbas came out to bat at Edgbaston. He was an unknown 23-year-old, but by the time he left the Edgbaston square, in only the second Test of his career, he had become a Pakistani legend and his intelligent and aggressive batting would go down in Edgbaston folklore.
Zaheer Abbas played a magnificent innings of 274, the highest total score by any Pakistani visiting batsman playing in his first Test in England. His poise and elegance was remarkable as he stepped back to hit the ball with awesome timing between mid-wicket and mid-on or lunged forward to drive past the gaping cover or backward point.
Even when under pressure from the England attack Zaheer continued to play positively, playing delicate deft pushes past gully or intelligently flicking the ball away to square leg. Remarkably this young player was looking like a seasoned pro and his charge led Pakistan into a commanding position.
Even the greatest batsman of his time, Colin Cowdrey, standing in the slips cheered his sensational stroke-play in admiration.
Zaheer epitomised the art of batting and left a lasting memory for all those who were lucky enough to see his remarkable innings at Edgbaston.
