HE has been too good for many of the world's best batsmen during a glittering cap career that saw him become Scotland's leading wicket-taker during Monday's World Cup defeat to England.

Yet this country's master of spin, Majid Haq, was dismissed as a mere "lobber" by former England coach David Lloyd during his commentary stint on Sky Sports. Lloyd came under fire on Twitter where he denied that the disparaging remark implied a lack of skill.

However, last night two distinguished Scottish exponents of spin suggested the comments were wide of the mark as they came to the defence of Haq whose victims over the years have included such distinguished willow-wielders as Michael Clarke, Matthew Hayden, Younis Khan and Jacques Kallis.

Haq, 32, racked-up the 257th dismissal of his international career when he had centurion Moeen Ali caught at the Hagley Oval, Christchurch, taking him beyond the mark set by assistant national coach Craig Wright.

Andy Tennant, Scotland's director of cricket, is convinced Haq deserves his place as the country's most successful bowler of all time.

A specialist spin coach, Tennant said: "I heard the commentary and felt it was a bit harsh. They kept on about how slowly Maj was bowling but his flight and dip in the air is what makes him a special bowler.

"What was portrayed as a weakness is actually a strength. It's obviously difficult for them commenting on Associate bowlers if they haven't done their homework and I think the remarks came across as ill-informed.

"To be honest, I think Maj did start off a bit slow and wasn't getting through his action at the point of delivery but when you look at his spell as a whole, he finished with 1-51.

"The figures don't lie.

"Majid should be rightly proud of what he has achieved for Scotland and I'm sure he'll go on to take many more wickets for his country."

Colin Mitchell, Haq's club and representative manager at Clydesdale and the Reivers respectively, also defended the player.

The former Aberdeenshire spinner said: "What Majid has achieved over the years and the way he has done it is to be admired.

"He is a traditional up-and-down off-spinner who has never been interested in the modern trend of bowling flat into the pads.

"He has persevered and ploughed his own furrow to perfect what he sees as a craft.

"To be fair to David Lloyd I think he has said on Twitter that the term he used wasn't meant to be derogatory and rightly so because the guys Majid has dismissed over the years simply don't get out to a 'lobber.'"

Meanwhile, Haq will be hungry for more wickets when Scotland resume their Pool A campaign tonight (Wed/Thu) against Afghanistan in Dunedin. It is the match that gives them their best chance of a maiden World Cup victory against a side they hammered by 150 runs in Abu Dhabi just last month.

However, the Afghans gave Sri Lanka a fright in their last Pool A match before going down by four wickets.

Tennant added: "The mood in the camp is one of determination. I think the players feel they haven't done themselves justice in the first two games. "The bowling and fielding in particular have been short of where we want to be but the next two matches will define our campaign."