Hasan Ali is an absolute legend; I have learned some stuff from him: James Anderson

James Anderson, the famed England pacer, has lauded Pakistani fast bowler Hasan Ali for his exceptional performance for Lancashire in the County Championship Division One. The 27-year-old Pakistani pacer is the joint leading wicket-taker with 24 wickets in eight innings. Anderson said that Hasan has been outstanding and that even he is learning from the Pakistan pacer.

Hasan was roped in by Lancashire for this season as he became the ninth Pakistani player to participate in the County Championship 2022. His performance has been rewarding for him as well as his team. Lancashire Cricket had adjudged Hasan as the Player of the Month for April for his wicket-taking skills in the County Championship as he has now scalped 74 wickets in 19 matches (36 innings) in the traditional format.

“Hasan Ali is an absolute legend, great guy and bowler. He’s quite quick and he gives it everything, every ball. He’s been amazing for Lancashire. He got Player of the Month for Lancashire in April and he’s got skills. It’s been great bowling with him. You can learn a lot from people you have not played with before when you see how they operate and see the different things they do. Although he’s been asking me a lot of questions about what I do, I’ve also been watching him and have learned some stuff from him,” Anderson said BBC Radio 5 Live.

“He just loves cricket and bowling. When you sign an overseas player, sometimes you’re never quite sure if they’re coming to get an experience of the conditions or the money. But he literally loves cricket, he will bowl all day long, he will never say no to the captain or say I am feeling tired or I need a rest,” he added.

James Anderson ‘amazed’ by Hasan Ali’s unique celebration

Last month, while playing against Gloucestershire, Ali had broken the middle stump with his searing pace while bowling to James Bracey. The pacer celebrates his wickets in a unique style, and Anderson said he is amazed by that.

“I like his celebration, I am amazed he can be so focused on bowling and all of a sudden he gets a wicket and he’s bang straight into the routine. He sort of bends his leg at the knees, his hands sort of touch the ground almost and then he pulls his hands back quickly, I can’t really describe it. Whenever he has done in the past, he has done in front of big crowds, in county cricket, it’s quite loud ‘Hooo, heee, Hoooo,” said Anderson.