Mitchell Johnson may have become Australia's human wrecking ball, but Pakistan coach Waqar Younis says the left-arm pace ace is not in the league of former fast bowling great Wasim Akram.
For Waqar, who formed half of one of world cricket's most deadly pace duos in the 1990s, Akram remains the benchmark for all left-arm quicks.
"I wouldn't compare anyone to Wasim Akram, that's for sure, because he's a legend and has done wonders for Pakistan over the last decade or so," Waqar said of his former teammate, who is ninth on the all-time wickets list with 414.
"He's got a long way to go if he wants to compete with Wasim Akram, but he's definitley a threat and a very fine bowler."
Waqar's comments come after a stellar run for Johnson during which he has re-established himself as one of the most lethal fast bowlers in international cricket.
Johnson, on 264, needs 28 wickets to pass Craig McDermott and move into Australia's top five wicket-takers' list, and could do so as early as this summer if he continues his red-hot run.
Johnson, with 59, sits second for most Test wickets during the past 12 months, bettered only by Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath who has played two more games.
And none of the world's leading bowlers during that period has come close to matching Johnson's average of 16 and strike rate of a wicket every 32 balls.
Johnson will find the pitches in the United Arab Emirates less helpful than the tracks back home and in South Africa but Pakistan still rate him highly.
"The last few seasons he has definitely changed his mode. He's become a lot better bowler, he's attacking," Waqar said.
"We know they'll use him in short spells and look for wickets from him. He's a fine bowler. He is a threat, he's world class."
