Full name:   Abu Nechim Ahmed
Born:   November 5, 1988, Guwahati, Assam
Current age:   22 years
Major teams:  Assam, ICL India XI, India Under-19s,Kolkata Tigers, Mumbai Indians, Royal Bengal Tigers
Playing role:  Bowler
Batting style:  Right-hand bat
Bowling style:  Right-arm medium-fast

Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling. Practitioners are usually known as fast bowlers, fastmen, pace bowlers, or pacemen, although sometimes the label used refers to the specific fast bowling technique the bowler prefers, such as swing bowler or seam bowler.

The main aim of fast bowling is to bowl the hard cricket ball at high speed and to induce it to bounce off the pitch in an erratic fashion or move sideways through the air, factors which make it difficult for the batsman to hit the ball cleanly. A typical fast delivery has a speed in the range of 136 to 150 km/h (85 to 95 mph). The fastest delivery officially recorded was clocked at 161.38 km/h (100.3 mph) and was bowled by Shoaib Akhtar of Pakistan during a match against England in the 2003 World Cup. The batsman facing the delivery was Nick Knight, who guided it into the leg side. This speed is said to have been later matched by Brett Lee however this has been put down to an erroneous recording due to external interference of the radar’s signal. Two back-up radars recorded the correct speed of 142 km/h (88 mph) for the delivery.

In most cricketing countries, fast bowlers are considered to be the mainstay of a team’s bowling attack, with slower bowlers in support roles. In the subcontinent, especially India and Sri Lanka, the reverse is often true, with fast bowlers serving mainly to soften the ball up for the spinners. This is largely due to the condition of the pitches used in those countries which gives more help to spinners than to fast bowlers, but at international level it is also a reflection of the outstanding skills of their spinners compared to their pace bowlers. By way of contrast, the other major subcontinental country, Pakistan, has produced several generations of feared pacemen mainly due to that nation’s mastery of reverse swing and having pitches that provide relatively more assistance to fast bowlers.

The new name to the Indian fast bowling lineup is obviously Assam’s Md. Nechim. Pace bowlers like to hunt in pairs and Nechim and Yomahesh have formed a powerful combination at Under-19 level that could be extended to the top level. They shared 21 wickets at the last World Cup and Nechim decimated the England top order in the semi-final with 4 for 14 – his second four-wicket haul of the tournament – when he produced lethal movement under the Premadasa floodlights. He swings the ball both ways, at good pace, and already has impressive control, even with the white ball – an art that many more experienced bowlers are yet to master.

Abu Nechim Ahmed was on the fringes of the national team when he took a career best 6 for 9 against Bangladesh in the Under-19s Tri-nations tournament in July 2007. He was also set to take part in the 2008 Under-19 World Cup – a tournament that the Indian colts would eventually go on to win.

When he first burst on to the scene, there were constant comparisons made with former India fast bowler Ajit Agarkar. Nechim formed a lethal combination with Vijaykumar Yo Mahesh during the 2006 Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka. He swung the ball both ways, at good pace, and demonstrated good control over the white ball – an art that impressed all at the Premadasa.

However, Nechim’s decision to join the Indian Cricket League (ICL) later that year meant his ouster from all national squads and also from his domestic side Assam. Playing for the Royal Bengal Tigers in the ICl, Nechim took 21 wickets from 10 Twenty20 games at a decent average of 27. In three 50-over games, the 21-year old took 7 wickets at a good average of 28.

Nechim with his bowling has impressed the viewers. His average speed is 145km/hr.

source: http://www.theeasterpost.com / The Eastern Post / Home> Sport