We’ve all known about Boom Boom for some time now, but the new sound coming out of the Pakistani camp and Pakistan is Tuk Tuk!
I’m sure you get where I’m coming from. For those readers who just got back from Mars, Tuk Tuk and Boom Boom are expressions that tell you about the batting style of a person (umm… in a sport called cricket!). Usually used by Pakistani’s for describing Pakistani cricket players, both styles of batting have their followers.
Tuk Tuk
This style is where the batsman stands at the crease with patience, being defensive more than aggressive, taking more singles than boundaries.
Favorite shot: the front foot defensive block
Strike rate: ~70%-80%
Pros: Stabilizes the inning; keeps wickets in hand; frustrates bowlers; keeps the score board ticking
Cons: Slows the innings down; puts pressure on the next batsmen; and because of low strike rate, has little entertainment value.
Boom Boom
The style where the batsman just can’t wait to swing the bat and send it out of the stadium; A more aggressive approach where one plays mostly to the ropes.
Favorite shot: the “andha dhun” swing of the bat
Strike rate: ~110%-120%
Pros: Un-nerves bowlers; boosts the score instantly; eases pressure off the next batsmen (if a decent score is made); best part: very entertaining.
Cons: Unpredictable; more often than not, the person scores very little; puts pressure on other batsmen if you get out quickly; no technique.
Got it? Good! Let’s get on with it…
Tuk Tuk has come under fire recently due to Pakistan’s really bad performance in ODI’s and T20 against England and the slow paced innings. On the other hand, what people fail to consider is did any of the Boom Boom protagonists do any better? At least the Tuk Tuk’s scored.
One very insane argument that you often hear is that Tuk Tuk playing puts pressure on the innings and the remaining batsmen can’t cope with it. Well, what do you have to say when the Boom Boom’s make 15 runs off 10 balls and get out playing a mind-bogglingly stupid shot? Does the fall of quick wickets NOT put pressure on the team?
Tuk Tuk’s are usually found in the middle order. And this in my view is the most pertinent style for them as the field is spread, there is usually no power-play, the spinners are on…stroke play is what is required and not crazy play.
The New Vs. The Old
Boom Boom is the new cricket, but in my view it’s only effective when executed sensibly, or in T20. The perfect example of this is Virat Kohli. There is nothing Tuk Tuk about him, but his Boom Boom is well crafted and sensible. That is what is required! Our Boom Boom’s are all just hot air now.
All this might sound as though I hate the Boom Boom’s, but that is not the case. I believe Umar Akmal has exceptional talent (unlike his brother) but needs a cool head to shape it to success.
Tuk Tuk, as you all know is the traditional way of cricket. This is what Pakistan needs today. The results speak for themselves; other than that weird England series, the last year was very good for Pakistan. Right now the men in green need to stabilize further and sail smoothly till the next world cup. This is not something Boom Boom will be able to deliver, especially with South Africa and Australia to be played this year. I believe Pakistan is on the right Tuk for now, the Asia Cup being another testament.
I suggest we continue with this till we regain our lost glory and then Boom Boom the @$% out of everyone!
(Image Courtesy: p_a_h)
I’m from afghanistan and more fans of Boom Boom he is the one finisher of the match in cricket history love him
I like boom boom
Boom boom is tha best
shahid afridi best we luv u afridi………..
Who said boom boom win matches. I think they loose more matches then winning.
tuk tuk best for test and boom boom best for t20
boom boom match winning playeror tuk tuk match losing player…….. Boom boom is best… I love BOOM BOOM AFRIDI 10
You forget last world cup where boom boom take 21 wickets.boom boom is match winner player but tuk tuk is just play for own.the fastest century made b tuk tuk was not for team because where team was also in winning position.boom boom alwyas play when team is on difficulties.if boom boom play as a opner i challenge he make an other fastest century.
Blend Afridi and Misbah and you will be find best batsman in the world
Nic
boom boom sirf 2 3 runs karta hy aur tuk tuk 40 50 that is the diffrent
tuk tuk nver wins a game for us……….but boom boom does…….that is the different between tuk tuk and boom boom…..
That’s why Boom Boom don’t play Test matches he only play limited over and the shorter formats as for Mr tuk tuk he need step up of his game in the limited.
He should not play ODIs as well.
Afridi record with bat and bowl in ODIs
Bating: matches 384, 6 centuries and 36 centuries score less than 20 runs more than 85%
Bowling: 384 matches and 383 wickets with strike rate of 34 and economy is 4.6 runs per over proves him as more than an average bowler not a but not by anymeans worldclass like Kalis.
I am biggest fan of shahid afridi I love Afridi
I LOVE U BOOM BOOM AFRIDI
Evry buddy forget .ponting is won the wcup he is boom boom not tuk tuk.
Dhoni win also he is boom not tuk tuk.
Imran khan also boom not tuk tuk .
W.ind also win two wcup richards is boom boom not tuk tuk.
Kapil dev also win wcup he is boom boom not tuk tuk.
Every buddy knows afridi is boom boom he is win world cup for pak.
@ evry buddy knows pak lost 2011 semi final reason is misbah.akmal punish youraj over for six.misbah playing test.
Indian aus sa eng .batsmen test strike rate better than misbah odi s.r
I ask a q for all of you.your oppener can not make in circle overs ball to ball run after that all thing afridi came time 50 balls 90 80 run evry time.what he can do that time play tuk tuk.
I think misbah is not a complete batman because he can not play against the pace attak .and he also cant paly offside
He can play only spinners.
Good Answer
Evry buddy forget .ponting had the team with 5 batsmen having average of more than 40 when he wan the world cup
Dhoni ponting had the team with 4 batsmen having average of more than 40 when he wan the world cup
Imran khan was tuk tuk, please check the records
W.ind also win two wcup ponting had the team with best batsmen at that time and best fast bowlers unlike Pak where we have only Saeed Ajmal.
Kapil dev also win wcup by luck with team full of tuk tuk.
Every buddy knows afridi is boom boom cant score with the bat (avg less than 25).
@ evry buddy knows pak lost 2011 semi final reason is kamran akmal. Misbah was highest scorer in that match.
Indian aus sa eng .batsmen test strike rate better than misbah odi s.r (be consider we have onlly 1 batmen and they hav a team. Pak team with all players less than 33 avg. cannot win anything.
I ask a q for all of you.your oppener can not make in circle overs ball to ball run after that all thing afridi came time 50 balls 90 80 run evry time.what he can do that time play tuk tuk. (please clarify everytime. afridi avg is 23 in more than 384 matches only 6 centuries and 36 half centuries, afridi failure rate is more than 80% with bat in his career)
Misbah score highest number of half centures in last year by any player or captain including ricky pointing, dhoni or any great player.
check records before post any comments.
I should not compare between Afridi Vs Misbah. Because Afridi is the best of entertainer of Cricket and Misbah, who understand the game plane & Wicket.
Allah pna main rakhe ese ap k entertainer se
Hmmm… nice article but if v compare Misbah n Afridi then v r going in wrong direction. both of them r not even a good example of neither BOOM BOOM nor Tuk Tuk. Kohli is the Best example of BOOM as he mentioned and The best example of Perfect Tuk Tuk is Pakistan’s Fawad Alam.
I think we should realize the abilities of Misbah ul Haq……..as he is the legend. There is no comparison between Shahid and Misbah, both have unique attributes
tuk tuk is the kitaab of misbah
Both are the essential Part of the games, but recently the TUk Tuk has not worked for Pakistan, the best example is the Asia Cup Final, where the BOOM BOOM set the pace for the Pakistan to take the total to a competing one.
We Know TUK TUK very well, he never was so defensive.
It seems that the writer too has just come from another corner of Mars. A corner of Mars where Tuk Tuk takes more singles than boundries. On earth this means a style of batting where a batsman safeguards his wicket by blocking every ball and sucks the life of an innings. That batsmen remain not out in the end and the team for which he is playing loses. So an article based on a wrong logic is to be considered invalid.
very well written article …brother you dn’t need to explain the qualities of Tuk Tuk to these T20 stupids fans ..these foolish people are making us to choose btw misbah and afridi but a cricketer knows that both are very important
Very Balanced Article ! . Those who love Shahid Afridi want to see 2 huge sixes but nothing.Misbah on the other hand, has tactical head on his shoulders and knows what is required for the team and Stats speak for itself ..
Regards
Agree with the above 5 commentators and would like to say that again, this is biased article.
And boom boom is only a batsman? Have you heard what an All-rounder is? Its a term used in the sport ‘cricket’
Every one is pulling leg by saying Tuk Tuk. But I think it’s a non-professional attitude to convey at this serious stage and a popular blog….
Don’t spread hatred “sameer”
Sorry but most of things by BOOM BOOM is not mentioned.. very much BIASED Article.. UNLIKE from ME..
Absolutely ridiculous article with no context whatsoever and every line is more lame than the previous one.
IN HISTORY OF CRICKET ONLY TUK TUK R RENOUNED NOT BOOM BOOM,IN EVERY FIELD NATIONS PREFFERRED TUKTUK APPROACH TO LEAD NOT BOOM BOOM STYLE. TUKTUK WINS WARS AND BOOM BOOM MAY B SOME CERTAIN PORTION OF WAR.