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Imran Tahir

Imran Tahir
Imran Tahir Image: Wikimedia Commons. Harrias / CC BY-SA 3.0

Mohammad Imran Tahir (born 27 March 1979) is a South African former international cricketer. A right-arm leg-spin bowler who predominantly bowls googlies, and a right-handed lower-order batsman, Tahir represented South Africa in all three formats of international cricket. He is best known for his attacking spin bowling and for his energetic "Marathon" celebration, in which he sprints across the field after taking a wicket.

Key facts

Full name Mohammad Imran Tahir
Born 27 March 1979
Nationality South African
Batting Right-handed
Bowling Right-arm leg-spin (googly specialist)
Formats Test, ODI, T20I
Notable trait "The Marathon" wicket celebration

Background

Tahir originally hails from Pakistan and later moved to South Africa, where he qualified to play international cricket. Before becoming a regular member of the South African side, he had a long domestic career, turning out for several teams in different countries, including a record number of English county clubs.

International career

Tahir established himself as South Africa's premier spinner across the limited-overs formats, and remains the country's leading wicket-taker among spin bowlers in both One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).

Major milestones

  • 15 June 2016: Became the first South African bowler to take seven wickets in an ODI innings. On the same occasion he became the fastest South African to reach 100 ODI wickets, achieving the mark in 58 matches.
  • 17 February 2017: Became the fastest South African bowler to reach 50 T20I wickets.
  • 4 March 2017: Against New Zealand, recorded the most economical figures by a South African spinner in an ODI, returning 2 wickets for 14 runs from 10 overs.
  • 3 October 2018: Became the fourth bowler for South Africa to take a hat-trick in ODIs.
  • March 2019: Announced that he would retire from ODI cricket following the 2019 Cricket World Cup.

County cricket

In 2019, Tahir joined Surrey as his eighth English county club, setting a new record for the most county sides represented by a single player.

Style and signature celebration

Tahir is recognised for his variety of leg-spin, with the googly being his stock delivery. He is equally well known for his exuberant on-field demeanour, particularly his sprinting wicket celebration, popularly referred to as The Marathon, which has become one of the most recognisable images associated with him in modern cricket.

Significance

Tahir's career marks a notable chapter in South African cricket, where fast bowling has traditionally dominated. By becoming the country's most successful spinner in ODIs and T20Is, he helped redefine the role of spin bowling in the South African setup, particularly in limited-overs cricket.

References