wler on the night. He broke through at a crucial time, when

The road leading from Lahore to Sialkot - the Grand Trunk road - has a police picket just as you start to leave the former city. The car I am in is stopped for a routine check, and a policeman asks me my profession. When I tell him I write on cricket, he complains that hes never heard of me, though he has played a lot of cricket and is related to a Test cricketer too. When I ask the name of this relative, he mumbles the answer, almost looking away. I tell him that is the very cricketer I am making this journey to go see in action.I couldnt help but read the coincidence as an omen. Here I was, awake early on a weekend, travelling to see a bowler I had spent over five years waiting to see again, and the first person I meet is a cousin of Mohammad Asif himself. Wondering about this moment provoked exactly the sort of emotions that Asifs art - because its too crass to just call it bowling - evoked in me. You never could tell what he was up to, but you could be assured he was up to something.As I was thinking these thoughts, the car stereo served up a Kanye West song, and my mind became stuck on one lyric: No one man should have all that power. Wasnt that the great tragedy of Asifs career? A bowler who seemed to have no end of ways to fool batsmen ended up banned because he was trying to fool all of cricket itself. If Salman Butts sins are seen as greed, and Mohammad Amirs as naivete, then perhaps Asifs sins came from hubris.All these grand narratives, however, are brought firmly back to earth by the sight of Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot. While both the outfield and the pitch are in good condition, the stadium itself seems like it is frozen in time. The stands are bare and concrete, and its disconcerting to see a stadium without any branding: the only signage, hand-painted, is to do with commercial entities from another era, and for advertising businesses that possibly no longer exist. The match itself is in an underwhelming situation. Asifs side, WAPDA, have taken a few wickets overnight, and started the morning with two more, to leave the opposition, UBL, four down.We were here, though, because a few days earlier Asif had added an entry to the modern phenomenon of the return to the mainstream via viral video. Much like Amirs comeback to domestic cricket last year, Asifs return was electrified by the release of a clip that showed him befuddling batsmen all over again. In both cases the videos answered the question everyone wanted to know: is he still as good as he used to be? It was a question relevant to only the two bowlers in the spot-fixing trio, since the lesser-talented Butt hadnt inspired such frenzy with his (televised) return to the domestic game.Before leaving, I had asked Osman Samiuddin for tips on what to look out for when watching Asif. Few people have seen and written on Asif as extensively as Samiuddin, who said, Id say the key thing about Asif was always, always, always the lengths he hit. Once the length is there, he continued, then come the fripperies - the hair, the lachak [elasticity] in the run-up… the flick of that wrist that makes it almost look like hes chucking.Back in Sialkot, it took eight overs before Asif was brought on. There was no pretence of a warm-up and he basically just jogged into bowl. The first few deliveries were slow, soft and wide, but then on the fourth delivery he found it. The batsman came forward without fully being able to do so and had to defend a ball outside his off stump. Asif soon settled into that groove, making the batsman defend balls of slightly different lengths.As he continued his seemingly innocuous spell, I was reminded again of how easy it is to undervalue his contribution. His ability to dry up runs is an asset for any captain regardless of the wickets he takes, but he has always been defined by the ability to bowl magic when you expect the mundane. Asif would always make you realise that the innocent-looking deliveries that had led up to the dismissal were all part of a grand plan. So perhaps its no surprise that when he finally conceded a run off a wide ball down the leg side, my friend and I watching both wondered if even that loose ball was part of a ploy.If it was, it doesnt pan out as planned. The main contribution we witness is that after facing Asif almost exclusively during his spell, UBLs Sohaib Maqsood is dismissed immediately after by Asifs replacement, Mohammad Irfan. Asifs spell at that point reads 14 runs off 12 overs, with no wickets. We dont see the movement or the trickery he is renowned for, but we do see that the metronomic nature of his bowling is still there. He doesnt have his full bag of tricks, but his calling card - the delivery at a teasing length - comes out regularly.When we meet him later, he both begins and ends our conversation talking about a side strain that he has been playing with. He also brings up the strain to explain why the keeper came up to the stumps after his first over, though he quickly adds that the main reason was to stop Sohaib shuffling.For much of the conversation, he projects a sober, realistic outlook of his prospects. He talks about the need to ease himself into bowling long spells, of how nothing compares to the physical test of long-form bowling. He says that he isnt in a hurry to come back, not until he has found his fitness, which he estimates could take the whole season. When asked about the pressures of the last five years, he expresses remorse for the mistake made by the three, and says that no one should emulate them. He talks about the importance of not giving up, and says that had any of them lost hope at any point, they would have never come back.It all feels like what youd expect from a cricketer, particularly one seeking atonement, but somewhere in the middle, the unfiltered Asif comes through. Even the bare confines of Jinnah Stadium are briefly illuminated by his strut and swagger.He reveals that side of himself first when asked about which format hed like to return in - red-ball cricket only, or limited-overs as well? He sits up as he replies, saying hes ready for any format. He then says that the rule change with two balls used in 50 overs would help him, since it would mean that one ball would be just with me, it would be mine, under my control. When hes asked which batsman he is most eager to face again, he laughs with a soft, knowing chuckle. I dont care, I can take on anyone. He explains that he doesnt believe in hyping up anyone he plays against. When I step on the field, no one is bigger than me. I am the big man out there, thats what I always believe.A point for surmise and conjecture is how Asifs style of bowling might have suited Misbahs hugely successful Test side. Few bowlers in history could execute Misbahs preferred tactic of drying up the flow of runs and picking up wickets as well as Asif. But when I put the question to him, his response is guarded. He talks - in a perfunctory way - about how well Misbahs side has used its advantages. His attitude reminds me of a quote by the footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who once said he wouldnt be watching the World Cup because he wasnt in it. It almost felt like despite the match in ideals, Asif wasnt interested in watching Misbahs Pakistan side because he wasnt in it.The full spectrum of his swagger emerges in the answer to a question on modern batting, particularly how much the discipline has evolved during his time away. Asif waves away the question, arguing that cricket should always be kept as simple as possible - a bowler needs to hit the three stumps. He says that modern T20 has made bowlers scared. Often times, he complains, they dont even complete their follow-through if theyve been hit.I asked him what he thought of AB de Villiers, a player who had spoken of how Asif troubled him, who was now at the cutting edge of battings possibilities. Asif laughs dismissively, and then says: [Back then] AB was already AB. Him, Kevin Pietersen, they are all my bunnies. I was the same before, Ill bowl the same way now if AB faces me. We can see what happens.And that is Asif at his most beguiling. A practitioner of crickets most visceral skill, he has always set himself apart as someone who breaks the mind rather than the body. For him, the intimidation is not through fear but with absolute superiority.Five years later, it isnt clear if his body can hold up, though. When he spoke about lasting the season, he wasnt just being practical - it was also an admission that he couldnt be sure if he would make it. That means perhaps the only people who see Asifs magic again will be those in empty stadiums hosting domestic matches. And so, while on that morning in Sialkot it was abundantly clear that the spirit of Asif was as devious as it always was, and that he still had the confidence of a world-class bowler, beneath the bluster his body might still betray him.After all, no one man can have all that power. Officiel Air Max Pas Cher . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. Air Max 90 Pas Cher Chine . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. http://www.airmaxpaschersite.fr/basket-air-max-200-outlet.html . There are surprises among the Vezina candidates, but most of the others are standard top-tier performers, even if the two Hart Trophy runners-ups have never been quite as good as they have been through the first half of the season. Air Max 97 Moins Cher . PETERSBURG, Fla. Air Max Pas Cher Chine . Michell Burger, a woman who lives on an estate next to Pistorius gated community, said she and her husband were awoken by the screams in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 14 last year, when Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp by shooting four times through a door in his bathroom. South Africa 295 for 4 (de Kock 178, Boland 3-67) beat Australia 294 for 9 (Bailey 74, Phehlukwayo 4-44) by six wickets Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsQuinton de Kock became the holder of South Africas second-highest individual score in ODI cricket with a career-best 178 as his side eased to a series opening victory over Australia. De Kock steered South Africa to the third-highest successful chase at SuperSport Park and ensured they drew first blood in a weekend of clashes against Australia. Sandwiched between ODIs on Friday and Sunday is a Rugby Championship fixture on Saturday. All the matches take place on the Highveld, de Kocks stomping ground, and on Friday night, he owned it.None of the Australian bowlers were spared de Kocks aggression. He took on pace and spin, anything on the pads or overpitched, the short ball and the wide ball. His was an innings that started with impeccable timing and placement and turned into belligerent bludgeoning, especially on the leg side. More than two-thirds of de Kocks runs came in that area, including nine of his eleven sixes and he made Australias 294 appear utterly inadequate.On a fairly flat pitch and a fast outfield, Australia should have breached 300 and, given their start, could have been eyeing many more. Australia were 88 for 1 in the 13th over before Andile Phehlukwayo pulled them back. He took 3 for 16 in four overs and finished with a career-best 4 for 44 in just his second ODI to lead a seam attack whose experience trio of Dale Steyn, Wayne Parnell and Kagiso Rabada all had off days.The South African seamers inconsistencies in length suited Australias almost-reckless approach. Five of their top six got starts but only George Bailey converted his. He scored a third half-century in four innings and shared in a 79-run seventh wicket stand with John Hastings, whose fifty was his first in international cricket, to take Australia close to 300 but not close enough to challenge South Africa.De Kock was authoritative from the start. He flicked a Hastings delivery on the legs into the stands and followed up with a flog through point to announce his intent. South Africas fifty came up inside seven overs and Rilee Rossouw, de Kocks opening partner who filled in for an ill Hashim Amla, had only contributed 17 of those runs.Rossouw did not remain an understudy for too long. He plundered three boundaries off each of Mitchell Marsh and Scott Boland to catch up to de Kock and the pair were on 43 each, with the score on 87 after 10 overs.De Kocks fifty came first, off 38 balls, with a pull off Travis Head. Rossouws followed in much quieter fashion, a single, but it came off the 36th ball. At 120 without loss after 15 overs, Australia were all but out of the contest and they had not even introduced their best bowler.ddddddddddddAdam Zampa was brought on in the 18th over, after Rossouw and de Kock had destroyed Scott Bolands figures by taking 18 runs off his fourth over, and had immediate success. Zampas first ball was a legbreak, Rossouw brought out the reverse sweep and was trapped in front.De Kock was on 82 when Rossouw was dismissed and had got there by playing the ball late and using deft, albeit powerful touches, but when Faf du Plessis joined him, he switched gears. He thumped a low full toss from Daniel Worrall to mid off, in a rare example of playing a shot down the ground instead of square, and then reached his hundred, off 74 balls, with an almighty pull over midwicket.Zampa came under attack as well and de Kock took three boundaries off his fourth over and three sixes off the first three balls of his sixth, With each one, there was a suspicion de Kock might emulate Herschelle Gibbs six sixes in an over. Gibbs was part of the commentary team, and looked on as de Kock went past his own highest score of 175 by drilling Marsh through the covers. Those were the last runs de Kock scored before holing out, 11 runs short of overtaking Gary Kirsten, who holds South Africas highest individual score of 188.It was left to Farhaan Behardien and David Miller to finish off after du Plessis and JP Duminy were dismissed cheaply. The wickets wont matter much to South Africa after they won with 13.4 overs to spare.De Kocks performance completely overshadowed Phehlukwayo, but he emerged as South Africas best bowler on the night. He broke through at a crucial time, when Aaron Finch flicked a short ball to fine leg where Wayne Parnell caught it low down.. Four deliveries later, Phehlukwayo had Steve Smith trapped lbw, missing an attempted glance. And three overs after that, had Marsh caught behind by a diving de Kock.Imran Tahir, the only other South African to concede at under six runs an over, had Travis Head stumped by a googly and Australia were five-down just over halfway in their innings and in danger of not batting out their overs. Baileys fifty was his third in four innings while Hastings was his first against a South African attack that, Phehlukwayo and Tahir aside, struggled for consistency.That may not be South Africas main concern ahead of the Sunday game though. Instead, they will be closely monitoring Steyn. Although he bowled his full complement of overs, Steyn left the field twice and was seen clutching the shoulder he broke last summer several times. ' ' '