Antigua: Mohammed Shami, who was away from Test cricket for 18 months, believed his daughter calmed him down when he was at his career best. Meanwhile, Shami’s accuracy, penetration, bouncer and the ability to bowl with the older ball makes him a very reliable option for India Test skipper Virat Kohli.
Shami has been game changer in earlier matches and can be used at any stage. Shami has shown why Kohli can continue to trust him. On a sluggish wicket that kept getting slower by the day, Shami bowled with intent on Day 3. West Indies experienced batsmen Darren Bravo and Marlon Samuels, were sent back to dugout, thanks to Shami’s deliveries on Day 3. Shami also completed 50 Test wickets after grabbing Samuels.
While speaking to bcci.tv, Shami recalled the time when he was away from Test cricket and on the wickets picked against West Indies. He said, “We had batted on this wicket and knew that it was a slow wicket. The plan was to bowl at a consistent spot for long periods of time and that is why we were successful. On slow wickets, the batsmen don’t expect the short ball. So, that was our plan to bowl the short delivery as it would fetch us wickets.”
About staying away from cricket for 18 months, Shami mentioned “It has almost been 18 months since I last played a Test. I got injured in Australia and underwent a surgery. My wife helped me a lot through the period as I was bed ridden for two months. In the same time, our baby (daughter) was born and that calmed me down as I was upset at getting injured since I was bowling really well. The birth of my baby helped me take the focus away from the game and I could re-energize myself. Also in the same period, I had put on about 15 kgs. I resumed my training and worked really hard in the NCA and then during the preparation camp. I felt that today I could carry on from where I had left. I didn’t feel like there was any extra load. Today, I felt I bowled the same manner that I used to.”
