CHESTER-LE-STREET, England // George Bailey, the Australia Twenty20 captain, believes Fawad Ahmed will become a match-winner for his adopted country after he took his first full international wickets on Saturday.
Leg-spinner Ahmed's return of three wickets for 25 runs from his maximum four overs could not prevent Australia losing the second Twenty20 international at Chester-le-Street by 27 runs as England levelled the two-match series at 1-1, but it may yet have more enduring significance than the raw result.
It was Ahmed who ended England's opening partnership of 111 when he induced Michael Lumb to top-edge a sweep to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, a wicket the bowler greeted with a kiss to the skies.
And having been entrusted with the 20th and final over by Bailey, Ahmed responded by dismissing both Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler – bowled first ball – as England finished on 195 for five.
Ahmed's return was timely after he took none for 43 on debut during Australia's 39-run win in the first Twenty20 at Southampton on Thursday.
"It meant a lot to him and would have meant a lot to all the people who have supported him," Bailey told reporters on Saturday.
"It was fantastic for him. We saw he has good control and good skills. He is someone who can have a lot of success.
"He'll be thrilled. No matter what your age is when you come into international cricket you want to know if you are good enough and where you stand. To improve from game one into game two he'll be really happy.
"To Fawad's credit he handled that pressure really well. It's good to know for the future. I think that showed he has a good knowledge of his own game and self-belief."
The 31-year-old Ahmed fled his native Pakistan in 2010 fearing political persecution and arrived in Australia as an asylum seeker.
Having played first-class matches in Pakistan, he began his cricket career in Australia with the Melbourne University club.
After bowling to Australia's Test players in the nets in 2012, Ahmed was signed by the Melbourne Renegades in Australia's Twenty20 Big Bash League before playing three Sheffield Shield matches for Victoria, where he took 16 wickets at 28.37 and impressed the likes of Australian leg-spin great Shane Warne.
In July, Ahmed became an Australian citizen after government-sponsored changes to legislation helped fast-track his application.
July also saw Ahmed play for Australia A on their tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe, after he was added to the national reserve side's squad for their tour of Britain and Ireland in June.
Bailey said he had been struck by Ahmed's enthusiasm for cricket, as exemplified by his approach to batting at No 11 and being out in the middle when Australia needed 34 to win off the last over.
"Knowing Fawad he would have been disappointed he didn't get us over the line with the bat," Bailey said after both Ahmed and Mitchell Johnson finished on three not out in Australia's total of 168 for nine.
"I didn't think he thought 34 off the last over was out of his reach."
But above all, it is Ahmed's bowling that has impressed Bailey.
"He will be a match-winner for us. I thought he mixed his pace up well today [on Saturday]. I think he just responds really well.
"He's a student of the game – he loves it."
Ahmed's rapid rise in Australian cricket has seen him become something of a standard-bearer for players from the country's immigrant communities.
But Bailey said it was important Ahmed was not swayed by outside influences.
"If he's half-sensible, he won't listen to anyone else's expectations. He's pretty passionate and has good self-belief.
"Much like everyone else, I'm enjoying getting to know him. He's a good player to have in your team."
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Why the Tourist Club?
Originally, The Club (which many people chose to call the “British Club”) was the only place where one could use the beach with changing rooms and a shower, and get refreshments.
In the early 1970s, the Government of Abu Dhabi wanted to give more people a place to get together on the beach, with some facilities for children. The place chosen was where the annual boat race was held, which Sheikh Zayed always attended and which brought crowds of locals and expatriates to the stretch of beach to the left of Le Méridien and the Marina.
It started with a round two-storey building, erected in about two weeks by Orient Contracting for Sheikh Zayed to use at one these races. Soon many facilities were planned and built, and members were invited to join.
Why it was called “Nadi Al Siyahi” is beyond me. But it is likely that one wanted to convey the idea that this was open to all comers. Because there was no danger of encountering alcohol on the premises, unlike at The Club, it was a place in particular for the many Arab expatriate civil servants to join. Initially the fees were very low and membership was offered free to many people, too.
Eventually there was a skating rink, bowling and many other amusements.
Frauke Heard-Bey is a historian and has lived in Abu Dhabi since 1968.
Charlotte Gainsbourg
Rest
(Because Music)
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
Price, base / as tested From Dh173,775 (base model)
Engine 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo, AWD
Power 249hp at 5,500rpm
Torque 365Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Gearbox Nine-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined 7.9L/100km
