Mumbai: Though Ravichandran Ashwin bagged the ‘man of the match’ award for his seven wickets and the batting masterclass (113), the Antigua Test — which India won by an innings and 92 runs — also saw the comeback of Mohammed Shami.
The speedster returned to Test cricket after nursing injuries for 18 months.
Shami credited his success on comeback (4/66) to his wife and daughter, Aaira.
The bowler picked up the all important wickets of Darren Bravo, Rajendra Chandrika, Marlon Samuels and Jermaine Blackwood in West Indies’ first innings. He swung the ball and looked fit and fast; he set the stage from where the hosts were wrapped up for 243 and were forced to follow-on.
“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,” Shami told bcci.tv.
“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,” he added.
Shami didn’t take a wicket in the second innings but was economical. His return is a good sign for India with the Tests lined up this season.
