Birthday special: Mohammed Shami – Three memorable spells by Indian pacer
The Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has cemented his place in the Test side with his innate abilities to swing the ball. Since his debut in 2013, Shami has grown from strength to strength and has become one of the most pivotal aspects of the Indian Test team. His ability to swing the new as well as the old ball is the element that makes him stand out from the others.
Now a regular name in the Indian squad for red-ball cricket, the pacer has shone for the side on many occasions. He has been one of the most consistent speedsters for India. Shami’s contributions have made him the nucleus of India’s pace attack in Test cricket.
As the pacer celebrates his birthday on September 3rd, let’s have a look at his top three Test spells.
Australia vs India, Perth 2018
6 wickets for Shami. His career best figures. 3 for Bumrah and 1 for Ishant. Australia 243. India require 287 to win #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/JPTmqtzguY
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 17, 2018
Shami registered his career-best figures of 6-56 in the second Test against Australia. It provided India an opportunity to fight back against the hosts as Shami scalped the wickets of Marcus Harris and Shaun Marsh with his bouncers. Post lunch he armed his talent better to send back Tim Paine, Usman Khawaja, and Aaron Finch. Nathon Lyon was his sixth scalp as Shami registered his fiery six-wicket haul.
India vs West Indies, Kolkata 2013
This Test match was special in many ways. It was the debut of Mohammed Shami and also the 199th Test match of Sachin Tendulkar. Shami picked up four wickets in the first innings but in the second innings, the reverse swing did more magic for him as he registered the five-wicket haul. Darren Sammy, Shane Shillingford, and Sheldon Cottrell fell prey to his perfectly executed inswingers and walked back to the pavilion. He took nine wickets for 118 runs and made a record of most wickets in a Test match by a debutant. India triumphed in the match by an innings and 51 runs.
India vs South Africa, Visakhapatnam 2019
Mohammed Shami registered a five-wicket haul on Day 5 of the Vizag Test to help India triumph over South Africa by 203 runs. He completed his fifth five-wicket haul in Tests. Shami ran through the batting lineup of the Proteas to fashion India’s victory. He starred with the ball as the hosts bundled out South Africa for 191.
