Wahab Riaz: Pakistan's Erratic Yet Brilliant Fast Bowler

Sometimes erratic, often sublime and always supremely watchable, Wahab Riaz is yet another hugely entertaining fast bowler to come off the Pakistani pace-bowling production line.

The 29-year-old was the pick of the bowlers on show on Day 2 of the first Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Galle. The hosts will be the happier of the two sides, closing on 178 for three after another day interrupted by bad weather.

A typically mercurial effort from Wahab included a wicket from a no-ball, a warning for running on the pitch and a catch dropped from his bowling, plus the wicket of arguably the world's best batsman in Kumar Sangakkara and that of improving opener Dimuth Karunaratne.

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Kaushal Silva hit a determined 80* to guide Sri Lanka to 178/3 at Stumps on an even Day 2 of the 1st #SLvPak Test pic.twitter.com/Ttkq5xTadF

— ICC (@ICC) June 18, 2015"

After winning the toss, Misbah-ul-Haq offered Sri Lanka first use of a pitch that had been under cover for most of the first day because of torrential rain.

Wahab made the most of what little movement was on offer early on, prompting Karunaratne to nick one to first slip. The first rule of fast bowling is don't waste your effort on a no-ball, and Wahab had done just that.

The misstep wasn't too costly, as Sri Lanka's opener departed soon after. Undone by extra bounce he underedged a short ball to wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed.

It could easily have been an early double strike for Wahab, but Yasir Shah shelled a sharp chance from Kasuhal Silva. It would prove to be a costly miss, as Silva finished the day unbeaten on 80.

Wahab kept pounding in on a slow and increasingly pitch and was eventually rewarded with the prize wicket of Sangakkara.

After a couple of short deliveries, Wahab pitched one a little fuller and wider, which the Sri Lankan great chopped to first slip. It was rich reward for the left-arm seamer, whose pace and aggression didn't let up throughout the day.

Morne de Klerk/Getty Images

More familiar to one-day rather than Test spectators, Wahab found an international audience by roughing up Shane Watson in the recent World Cup. Finding pace, bounce and movement, the Australian all-rounder was on the receiving end of one of the spells of the tournament. Wasim Akram would have been proud.

Given Pakistan's itinerant international status, it's perhaps unsurprising that Wahab has just 10 Test caps to his name.

After taking five for 63 in his Test debut against England at the Oval in 2010, the left-armer's career has been a frustratingly stop-start affair. Impressive performances have been punctuated by injury and loss of form.

Now, at the age of 29, it seems he finally knows his game and his body. As his World Cup performances showed, he is one of the most watchable bowlers in the game when he's in the mood. A haul of 14 wickets at an average of 22.42 was a fine return, especially given the overall weakness of the Pakistani side.

Capable of topping 90 mph on the speed gun, he can also swing the ball late, a potentially deadly combination.

With Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson and Trent Boult putting in stellar performances in both red- and white-ball cricket, it's a golden age for left-arm fast bowlers. When he's in the mood, Wahab deserves his place among that exalted company.

He may not have the flamboyance of Imran Khan or the devastating flair of Wasim Akram or Waqar Younis, but in these troubled times for Pakistani cricket, the country needs a fast bowler to carry the team. The lion-hearted Wahab Riaz has the fire, passion and aggression to be that man.