Cricket: Younis defends the bouncer

Pakistan coach and fast bowling great Waqar Younis has defended the bouncer. Photo / AP.

Pakistan coach and fast bowling great Waqar Younis has defended the bouncer in the aftermath of the fatal delivery which struck Australian international Phillip Hughes in a first-class match.

Younis was more famous for his yorkers and generating reverse swing than his shorter balls. His modus operandi was rewarded with the second highest strike rate (43.4) behind Dale Steyn for test bowlers with over 200 wickets.

He said removing the short ball as a "weapon" would be a mistake.

"How many restrictions do you want to put on the game? Already [the danger] has come down a lot if you go back [and compare today] with the 1960s, 1970s and even Bodyline.

"The people who make the laws have thought hard about this. I don't think you can do much about it. The incident has just happened, it's unfortunate, and people have started thinking about it."

Younis cited Tom Latham's dismissal in the first innings of the third test as an example of a bouncer's value. Rahat Ali used a few shorter balls and Latham eventually went for the hook. It looked safe until Sarfraz Ahmed completed a diving catch after running 30m to backward square leg.

"Who says bouncers don't get you wickets?" Younis said. "Not many fall that way, but it's a tactic. Once you bowl a couple, the batsman starts thinking about the length. It's a weapon for a fast bowler to pick up wickets. It's not just there to intimidate and hurt."
Younis' thoughts were reiterated by his opening batsman Mohammad Hafeez.

"It's a sad incident - we all know that - but a bouncer is just one of the balls you have to play. The bowler is likely to give you one once he has been hit. They'll often come back hard. It's a weapon they can use. We've used helmets now for many years but this is a chance to improve them so protection comes first."

There were similar views in the New Zealand camp. Speaking before Hughes' death, but after the accident, New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said you couldn't remove bouncers from the game.

"There's some dangers in this game and it's not often something like that happens. You've got to have that element of competitiveness. Bouncers are part and parcel of this game. I don't think we can adjust how we go about that. It's never nice when you do see it, but it's the exception rather than the rule."

Kane Williamson expected further research and development into helmet technology as a result.

"I imagine manufacturers will be looking into their equipment to make improvements. I have no doubt those will come through very quickly."

ANDREW ALDERSON TRAVELLED TO THE UAE COURTESY OF EMIRATES