XtraTime Web Desk: India’s cricket team’s pace maestro Mohammed Shami has been regarded as the best reverse swing bowler of current generation. After making his debut for the national team back in 2013 Shami has improved day by day and has become the team’s essential member in all the formats of the game. He has clicked the 145kmph barrier on a consistent basis. His accurate line and length and his ability to swing new as well as old ball is his great strength. So here’s presenting you the five memorable bowling performances of Shami in the three formats of the game; Tests, ODIs and T20Is respectively.
5/47 vs West Indies, 1st Test at Eden Gardens
This match against West Indies was Shami’s Test debut in 2013. It was a dream debut as he took 9 wickets for 118 runs with which he recorded his record for the most wickets in a test match by an Indian debutant. In the second innings of this match Shami took a five wicket haul giving away just 47 runs which helped India win the match by an innings and 51 runs. This match was very special for the pacer and the cricket fans all over as it was Sachin Tendulkar’s 199th match and nothing better than ending his second last match of the career on a winning note. In the second innings he took the wickets of Marlon Samuels, Dinesh Ramdin, Darren Sammy, Shillingford and Sheldon Cottrell.
6/56 vs Australia, 2nd Test at Perth
Mohammed Shami’s career-best 6/56 in the game gave India a fighting chance in their second Test against Australia, with the visitors being set a 287-run target at Perth to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Shami’s explosive burst during the second session on Day 4 led to a collapse which saw Australia fold for 243 all out after having been 192/4. He took the wickets of Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Travis Head and Nathan Lyon. Though Indian batsmen failed to capitalize the upper hand and they lost the game by 146 runs.
4/35 vs Pakistan, 2015 World Cup at Adelaide
India were playing against arch-rivals Pakistan in their opening encounter of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. Batting first India posted a big total of 300 on board. The wicket was good to bat on and the match was very much open with Pakistan boasting of some quality batsmen.
Shami was fast and immaculate with the line and length in his opening spell. His bouncer to dismiss Younis Khan sent jitters in the Pakistani camp. Later, he picked up massive wickets of Shahid Afridi, Misbah-ul-Haq and Wahab Riaz and made sure that India’s clean record over Pakistan in the World Cup remained intact.
Shami was the fifth highest wicket-taker of the tournament with 17 wickets to his name from seven matches.
3/28 vs England, 4th ODI at Birmingham
India had already lost the test series 3-1 and this was a rare chance of winning a silverware in England. India were 2-0 up in the series and a victory would have handed the series in favor of India. England batted first and got off to a terrible start. Shami and Bhuvi gave India early breakthroughs and England were reeling at 23-3.
Shami came back and dismissed Buttler to break the momentum of English innings. England were bundled out for 205 and the Indian openers demolished the England bowling to win by nine wickets and hand India a confidence-boosting ODI series victory.
3/19 vs New Zealand, 1st ODI at Napier
Shami’s top spell at Napier helped him to cement his place in the squad for World Cup.New Zealand were never in the game post the loss of their openers and got bundled out for just 156 as India easily chased that down with 8 wickets in hand courtesy of a fine half-century from Shikhar Dhawan.
Shami ended up as the leading wicket-taker of the series from India with 9 wickets to his name in four matches.