Analysing Mohammad Amir's return to Test cricket

Outside London, England were all over Pakistan

Old Trafford – England pounce back

And when he did for the second Test – and before Cook and Root took the glory away from the Pakistanis – for a brief moment it looked as if the years had been rolled back, when a delivery swung in towards Hales, and then held its line after it pitched full on just on the middle stump. The distance between the bat and the pad was proportionate to the geographical distance between the two countries, and Mohammad Amir penetrated it with ease.

Cook and Root did what they did thereafter, as Yasir Shah’s wicketless marathon began Old Trafford. Amir got Hales again in the second innings, but England’s lead had already approached 500 by then.

“Maybe there was a bit of tiredness after he bowled a lot of overs in the previous Test," Misbah said of Yasir. "But there was a big difference in this match compared to the previous one. He could not really bowl with that control and consistency.” Nor could any of the Pakistani bowlers in that match. Maybe the victory at Lord’s and the celebration thereafter had still not settled in. Whatever it was, it proved that all England needed was only a window of opportunity.

Edgbaston – so close, yet so far

While Sohail Khan hogged much of the limelight during the third Test at Edgbaston, and Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali snatched the victory right out of Pakistan’s hands, Amir struck twice in two overs with the second new ball on Day 1 to get Ali and Broad caught behind the stumps to draw to a close England’s first innings stuttering at 297.

That Pakistan made 400 in their first essay and then went on to lose by 141 runs speaks volumes about Bairstow and Ali’s efforts and Anderson and Broad’s as well, who got the Pakistani captain admit that they were the better exponents of a skill that was grown on his home soil – the reverse swing.

“Anderson and Broad are used to these conditions. They are really experienced. Full credit to England for the way they fought back after we had a lead of more than 100. I think we'll just have to send someone to learn from England now how they're reversing this ball. We could not do it even on the fourth day. I think they are really doing it well,” said Misbah after the game.

Breakthroughs at crucial junctures kept coming off Amir’s deliveries

Sweet redemption at the Oval

Sohail Khan bagged a five-wicket-haul for the second match in a row – at the Oval – but before he could get his share of the attention, Amir, and by extension, Yasir Shah, got the attention of the crowd and players alike, when a claimed catch at short square leg off Alex Hales could not be judged for its veracity by the third umpire Joel Wilson. Bruce Oxenford, the on-field umpire, who had given it ‘Out’ initially before asking his colleague to have a look was thereby directed to stay with his decision, much to the dismay of a fuming Hales, who was later reprimanded for his aggressive behaviour towards the officials.

Later on, after Sohail’s heroics and Wahab’s little cameo on his comeback, Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow were at it again, and after having England 5 down at 110, it seemed as it would be a deja vu from the third Test. However, Amir had other plans, as one of his wide deliveries outside the off stump had enough invitation on it to draw Bairstow forward into the drive and induce an inside edge. That was Amir’s last wicket of the series, and Younus Khan’s routine work of making magnanimous comebacks made sure that Pakistan bowed out with the honours being equalled.

The verdict

Amir picked up 12 wickets from 4 Tests on his return to Test cricket

So how exactly did Amir fare? 12 wickets across 4 Tests at 42.41 and a strike rate of 81.2 make up for terribly bad numbers. However, it must not be in the light of these statistics that his performances must be judged.

If one observes closely, the pacer got a well-set Cook in the first innings at Lord’s, got Hales at Old Trafford with one of the best deliveries that he bowled all series, got Moeen Ali – who had already made a half-century – on the first day at Edgbaston to help Pakistan wrap up the English tail, and broke the threatening stand between Bairstow and Ali once again at the Oval. Hence, Mohammad Amir on the opening days of each of the four Tests helped Pakistan get a breakthrough when they needed it the most. For a new-ball bowler to do that, especially after returning from an arduous six-year-long break from the whites is an achievement in itself.

This wasn’t Amir’s redemption series – not at least with the ball. He has bowled better in the past and will bowl better than how he bowled in England this summer. But one thing that can be grasped for sure from this performance is the fact that six years of gruelling struggle had only hardened the man even better, and notwithstanding his performances henceforth, Amir’s comeback to Test cricket would remain a folklore to be remembered.