Wasim Akram toughest bowler I have faced, says Mahela Jayawardene

Pakistan's Wasim Akram is regarded as one of the legends of the game. Labeled widely as the "Sultan of Swing," Akram was lauded as the toughest bowler Mahela Jayawardene has ever faced. The Sri Lankan legend said that the all-rounder's ability to move the ball both ways was unmatchable.

Jayawardene said to the ICC web show, "Hands down, Wasim Akram. I made my debut when it was his [Akram's] peak or the backend of his career,"

"It was a nightmare to face him as it was tough because he is challenging you with the new ball, doesn't matter what format it is. He had a really quick-arm action, and he had the ability to beat you any time of the day,"

The Mumbai Indians (MI) coach explained that Akram would bowl with the same intensity irrespective of the old or new ball and always managed to bring the best to the field.

"He [Akram] would run-in with the same intensity at the end of the second day's play as he would at the first ball of the match," explained the T20 WC winner."

Jayawardene, who made his international debut in 1997 for Sri Lanka, faced Akram in 27 matches across Tests and ODIs. However, Akram got the better of the right-handed six times.

Interestingly, from his 54 international tons, Jayawardene managed just one hundred against the Pakistani attack that included Akram (ODI at Visakhapatnam in 1999).

Akram made his debut for Pakistan in 1985, under the tutelage of Imran Khan, and played 104 Test and 356 ODIs for his country, securing 916 wickets in total. 

He was the world record holder (502) until Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (534) surpassed him as the leading wicket-taker in ODI cricket.

Akram has four hat-tricks to his name, two apiece in Test( both against Sri Lanka) and ODIs.

Fun fact, Jayawardene was Akram's third wicket in this second Test hat-trick in 1999 at Dhaka in the Test Championship tournament!