A fast bowler of growing repute, Umar Gul is the latest in Pakistan’s assembly-line of pace-bowling talent. He had played just nine first-class matches when called up for national duty in the wake of Pakistan’s poor 2003 World Cup. On the flat tracks of Sharjah, Gul performed admirably, maintaining excellent discipline and getting appreciable outswing with the new ball. Gul isn’t in the Shoaib Akhtar category in terms of pace, but his exceptional control and ability to extract seam movement marks him out. Further, his height enables him to extract bounce on most surfaces and from his natural back of a length, it is a useful trait. His biggest moment in his brief international career so far came in the Lahore Test against India in 2003-04.

Unfazed by a daunting batting line-up, Gul tore through the Indian top order with his ability to move the ball both ways off the seam at a sharp pace. His 5 for 31 in the first innings gave Pakistan the early initiative which they drove home to win the Test and level the series. Unfortunately, that was his last cricket of any kind for over a year as he discovered three stress fractures in his back immediately after the Test. The injury would have ended many an international career, but Gul returned, fitter and sharper than before in late 2005. He wasn’t picked for the winter series against England but finally put on a Pakistan shirt against India in the ODI series at home in February 2006. Understandably he was rusty but there were enough signs in his displays to warrant encouragement; he went to Sri Lanka and opened the bowling in both Tests with Mohammad Asif.

He showed further signs of rehabilitation by lasting both Tests but it was really the tour to England where he fully came of age. Leading the pace attack as Pakistan’s main bowlers suffered injuries, Gul toiled manfully as Pakistan withered. He was Pakistan’s best bowler in the Test series and ended it in fitting fashion, taking his second five-wicket haul at Headingley and five wickets at the Oval Test. With Mohammad Sami fading, Gul has established himself as part of a dangerous Pakistan pace attack. In October he signed a one-year contract with Gloucestershire for the 2007 season. .. .