All text content on this website is the copyright of Channel 4 unless stated or indicated. All photographs are reproduced courtesy of Getty Images UK Ltd unless otherwise stated.

CRICKET ROADSHOWS

Week 14 Preview - 10 Aug, Trent Bridge Roadshow steps up the pace

Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar, the 'Rawalpindi Express', is the star guest as Saturday's Cricket Roadshow looks at life in the fast lane.

The charismatic Akhtar has been the central figure in an interesting variation of the club versus country dilemma this week – more of a pub versus country dilemma bearing in mind his loyalty to Lashings CC over Pakistan – but the one thing no-one doubts is his ability to bowl very, very fast.

Exactly how fast remains a matter of conjecture after the ICC refused to recognize unofficial claims that he broke the 100mph barrier during the winter, but he is unquestionably one of the quickest bowlers in modern Test history.

Until recently his only serious contemporary rival in that department has been Australia's Brett Lee but now a new batch of young English and Welsh quickies has begun to emerge. The likes of Simon Jones, Steve Harmison and Alex Tudor are all capable of bowling consistently above the 90mph mark, giving England a real potency in the speed department ahead of this winter's Ashes tour.

Whether the tyro trio develops as hoped remains to be seen but they should be in good hands while on international duty thanks to the efforts of England bowling coach (and former Test quickie) Graham Dilley, who will also be on Roadshow duty.

Also on the programme will be Andy Pick, England's bowling development coach, while Analyst Simon Hughes takes a look at the mechanics of bowling fast. Added quality comes courtesy of a video report from the Dennis Lillee Fast Bowling Academy in Western Australia, while former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd talks about the value of having a fearsome fast bowling battery at your disposal.

Elsewhere on this week's show there'll be the usual round-up of news and reviews, with particular emphasis on the 2nd npower Test at Trent Bridge.

Mail the Cricket Show team at cricketshow@cricket4.com

Click to return to C4 cricket shows