Pakistan has had little to cheer about in a demoralizing series against England but its continued unearthing of gems in the bowling department gives the team hope of a bright future. Wahab Riaz, who claimed figures of 5-63 against England at The Oval Wednesday on his Test debut, is the latest left-arm paceman to come off the Pakistan production line. Drafted in as a replacement for the injured Umar Gul, Riaz went through England's top order by taking the prize scalps of Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott and Eoin Morgan on a pitch often described as a batsman's paradise. He completed his five-for by trapping Stuart Broad lbw late in the innings. Regularly bowling 90mph-plus deliveries with boundless enthusiasm, Riaz's bounce and movement caused England's batsmen all sorts of problems, justifying his selection ahead of Tanvir Ahmed. The 18-year-old Mohammad Aamer has blossomed in this series and understandably has been said to be the future of Pakistan's pace attack but, on this evidence, he and the impressive Mohammad Asif have a talented ally in the lanky Riaz. “It's great when a dream comes true – I'm really happy,” said the 25-year-old Riaz, whose idol – not surprisingly – is Pakistan bowling great Wasim Akram. “I knew when I got a chance, I had to perform and that is what I did. It was just about bowling line and length. I hit the right areas.” Riaz received his maiden call-up to Pakistan's squad for the tour of England after previously only appearing in a handful of limited-over matches for his country, all of them in 2008. He impressed in last year's tour of Australia with the Pakistan ‘A' team and has a first-class average of 28,88, having collected 221 wickets in 65 matches. Finally handed a first-team opportunity following Gul's hamstring injury in Pakistan's defeat at Edgbaston in the second Test, Riaz immediately made inroads with his searing pace from the Pavilion end accounting for Strauss and Trott in the space of 11 balls. In his second spell, at the Vauxhall end, he drew nicks behind from Pietersen and Morgan, leaving him with figures of 4-35 off 12.5 overs. Pakistan toiled as Matt Prior and Broad led England's fightback in the second session but the latter was trapped in front by Riaz, sparking a late collapse from the home side. It was the wicket of the in-form Morgan which particularly pleased Riaz. “I have been watching him play this series and he has been getting runs all the time,” he said. “It was in my mind to get him and that was a crucial moment for me. “Pietersen is one of my favorite players and to get his wicket was wonderful, but Morgan was on my mind the most. I plan to get 10 wickets (in the match) so I want to get five more.” Pakistan has never been afraid to give prospects a chance, and being thrown in at the deep end often brings the best out of them. With Waqar Younis and Aaqib Javed as his coaches, Riaz has some fine former international pace bowlers from which to learn. “Waqar came up to me before the match and said, ‘Do your best, whatever you do – we are all behind you, supporting you.' The confidence he had in me was great,” Riaz said. “It was a batting paradise today so I think I've done my job.” Just as important as his wicket-taking capabilities was Riaz's ability to galvanize Pakistan fielders with his eagerness and enthusiasm. The tourists were sharp and sprightly in the field, and on Wednesday they took their catches, recalled wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal pouching four while debutant Yasir Hameed and Umar Akmal took one each down to their right at second slip.
