Mohammad Abbas strikes in Tests for first time in three years on return

In his first appearance in three years, Mohammad Abbas struck with a brute of an in-ducker to remove the on-song Tristan Stubbs of South Africa on December 27 (Thursday) in the Boxing Day Test at Centurion. The ball kept seaming back to beat Stubbs’ defence as the Proteas batter was trapped right in front of the stumps, walking back for just nine. 

Abbas was playing his first Test since representing Pakistan against the West Indies away from home in 2021. In that clash, Abbas struck thrice, taking the wickets of Nkrumah Bonner, Kyle Mayers, and Joshua Da Silva. 

But ever since he was dropped from the national setup, the right-arm seamer put on consistent displays for Hampshire. In those three years, Abbas was the pick of the bowlers in the County circuit, with 50 wickets in 2022, where he averaged 17.6. The seamer backed it up the following year with another 53-wicket season, averaging 20.1. 

While he didn’t play too much in 2024 (8 appearances), the 34-year-old’s performance was enough for Pakistan to recall him for the two-match Test series against South Africa, a move that turned out fruitful.