Mohammad Shami backs Virat Kohli's five bowler theory
Mohammad Shami, Team India's pacer and part of the Test team currently touring the West Indies, has endorsed captain Virat Kohli’s five bowler theory, saying that it gives the bowlers more time and rest.
After leaving the hosts struggling on 48-4 at the end of the fourth day, the Indian bowling attack couldn’t take the required six wickets on the last day of the second Test, with a brilliant rearguard century from Roston Chase forcing the match to a draw.
"You bowl 4-5 overs in a spell, and then, when you have five bowlers, you get 8-10 more overs to get rest. So the rhythm is better on return and you are able to make more effort. It is a very big plus-point that we have two good spinners and three fast bowlers playing in the eleven. This is a good combination and we want to keep it going,” Shami said after India’s first training session post a three-day rest.
Shami made a comeback to the national side after a gap of eighteen months, having been sidelined post the World Cup last year due to a knee injury. He has looked in good nick ever since, having captured eight wickets in four innings at an average of 24.62. Overall, he sits on the second spot in the list of highest wicket-takers in this series, behind Ravichandran Ashwin, who has 13 wickets from the two Tests.
Speaking on his comeback, the 26-year old said that he was apprehensive after being operated on, but his stint at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore helped him get his groove back.
"When the operation happened, there was some doubt in my mind. But when I went through rehab in the NCA for 7-8 months, then the doubt went out of my head. I told the doctors and trainers to put as much load on me as possible, because I didn’t want any recurrence after returning to full fitness. I wanted to start again from where I left off, and thankfully I have been able to do so. Hopefully I can keep going in the same vein. During my away time, my only focus was to reduce my weight and control my diet as much as possible because that would mean getting back to fitness would be easier. Even so I have lost nearly 14-15 kg, which went above because I was in bed for two months. So I had to work hard to lose it all and the result is for all to see now," he said.
Virat Kohli was all praise for Shami earlier this month, hailing him as the “ideal Test bowler” who has the ability to hit the “perfect Test match length”. Commenting on his plans for the West Indian batsmen, Shami said: "There are only two ways to test the batsmen – either you can pitch it up or you can bowl short. So my plan is to make the batsmen uncomfortable, find out what his weakness is and keep bowling at it. I was trying to read their weakness early as well as working out what lengths to bowl on different pitches. It helps with working out the batsmen.”
The third Test of the four-match series begins at the Darren Sammy International Cricket Stadium at St. Lucia from August 9th. India lead the series 1-0.