Rawalpindi Express leaves Australia at station

Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar said last month he had had enough of chasing speed records and wanted to concentrate on taking wickets consistently.

Australia felt the brunt off that attitude on Saturday when the player known as the "Rawalpindi Express" ripped through their batting order.

In a lightning performance that turned the first Test on its head, Shoaib took five wickets in 15 balls as Australia slumped to 127 all out, leaving Pakistan two days to score 316 runs for the win.

Australia were cruising along at 74 for one and looking to set a huge target when Shoaib was handed the ball and began one of his lengthy run-ups with his long hair flopping in the wind.

The first to feel the heat was Ricky Ponting, the first innings century maker with 141 runs, who was out for just seven after edging a ball on to his stumps.

Then there were back-to-back ducks for Mark Waugh and his brother Steve, both battling to hang onto their Test spots after being dropped from Australia's one-day side.

Mark Waugh could only watch as he was clean bowled by a 145 kph first ball, while Steve managed to avoid gifting Shoaib the hat-trick before being judged out on an lbw decision.

After spinner Saqlain Mushtaq took out Matthew Hayden, Shoaib went back to work, bowling Adam Gilchrist for five then trapping Shane Warne for an lbw duck.

Shoaib finished with five wickets for 21 runs after taking three for 51 in the first innings that blunted what looked to be a huge Australian total at one time.

His performance overshadowed an amazing stretch by Warne, who took out Pakistan's last five batsman for a haul of seven for 94.

Shoaib made his Test debut against the West Indies in his hometown of Rawalpindi in 1997 and since then has been considered one of the most exciting players in the sport with his speed and sometimes wild deliveries.

The 27-year-old and Australia's Brett Lee are regarded the fastest bowlers in the world and had been competing to be the first to reach the 100 mph landmark.

But Shoaib says he wants to control the speed to get more wickets.

"Basically, I am no longer interested in bowling faster," he had said at last month's ICC Champions Trophy.

"It is more important to win matches...not to prove how fast I am," said Shoaib, clocked at 161 kph (100.04 mph), during a one-dayer against New Zealand in April.

But as such feats are not officially monitored, the ICC has said they must remain unofficial.

Lee was clocked at 99.4 mph in South Africa this year, just under the second fastest delivery of 99.8 set by Australia's Jeff Thomson in 1976.

A good pace bowler would be happy to average about 85 mph.

Shoaib has also been cleared several times by the ICC after accusations of a suspect bowling action.

The eight wickets give him 77 from 22 Tests.

Mail Cricket Editor