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    "title": "Mitchell Johnson not in Akram's league yet: Waqar",
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    "article_type": "General",
    "excerpt": "Australia's Mitchell Johnson may have threatened some of the best batting line-ups in world cricket with his lethal pace",
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    "editor1": "<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">Dubai, Oct 22 (IANS) Australia&#39;s Mitchell Johnson may have threatened some of the best batting line-ups in world cricket with his lethal pace, but Pakistan coach Waqar Younis says that the left-arm fast bowler is yet to reach Wasim Akram&#39;s level.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">For Waqar, who formed half of one of world cricket&#39;s most deadly pace duos in the 1990s, Akram remains the benchmark for all left-arm pacers.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">&quot;I wouldn&#39;t compare anyone to Wasim Akram, that&#39;s for sure, because he&#39;s a legend and has done wonders for Pakistan over the last decade or so,&quot; Waqar was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald about his former teammate, who is ninth on the all-time wicket-takers list with 414.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">&quot;He (Johnson) has got a long way to go if he wants to compete with Akram, but he&#39;s definitely a threat and a very fine bowler.&quot;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">Waqar&#39;s comments come after a stellar run for Johnson during which he has taken 59 wickets in the past 12 months to re-establish himself as one of the most lethal bowlers in international cricket.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">With 264 wickets, the 32-year-old Johnson needs 28 wickets to pass Craig McDermott and move into Australia&#39;s top five wicket-takers&#39; list and could do so as early as this summer if he continues his red-hot run.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">And none of the world&#39;s leading bowlers during the past one year has come close to matching Johnson&#39;s average of 16 and strike rate of a wicket every 32 balls.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">Johnson will find the pitches in the United Arab Emirates less helpful than the tracks back home and in South Africa but Pakistan still rate him highly.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">&quot;The last few seasons he has definitely changed his mode. He&#39;s become a lot better bowler, he&#39;s attacking,&quot; Waqar said.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">&quot;We know they&#39;ll use him in short spells and look for wickets from him. He&#39;s a fine bowler. He is a threat, he&#39;s world class.&quot;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n",
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    "created": "2015-02-09 02:31:00",
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