We Bowled In The Right Length And Accordingly Got Wickets - Mohammed Shami On Indian Pacers' Dominating Performance On Day 1

Mohammed Shami hailed the brilliant performance of the Indian pacers on Day 1 of the Nottingham Test against England where the hosts were bundled out for 183 after Joe Root elected to bat first.

India went with a four-man pace attack comprising Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Siraj, and Shardul Thakur; Ishant Sharma wasn’t fit for the game, but the big surprise was that of the exclusion of R Ashwin for the pace-bowling all-rounder abilities of Thakur. The Palghar-born vindicated his selection by dismissing Root, England’s highest scorer on Wednesday.

Mohammed Shami, who continued his superb rhythm from the WTC final and bagged three wickets on Day 1, said that the bowlers bowled in the right length – which is the full length looking for the swing on offer – and troubled the English batters with the prodigious movement of the Dukes. Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers with four scalps to his name and he also gained immense swing movement both with the new and old ball.

“Now the thing is that we need to focus on the first hour and according to me the ball has not done much, the way we bowled in the day, we bowled in the right length and accordingly you have got wickets,” Mohammed Shami said after day’s play. 

We should make a good score and take the lead: Mohammed Shami

After England’s innings, it was the turn for their bowlers to keep their side in the game. However, India’s new opening pair of Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul kept them wicketless. Both the right-handers dealt cautiously with England’s four-prong pace attack in the final hour of the day’s play to score 21 runs.

Mohammed Shami is confident that the batters will make most of this opportunity given to them by their bowlers and take a sizeable lead and continue their hold on the game.

“Obviously because 183 as per me we should make a good score and take the lead. We are in a good position, because any team you bowl out for 183 at its home is a good performance. I think, we need to focus and (it) doesn’t matter whether it is 183 or 283, you need to focus a bit and need to add runs. The main focus will be to score 183 and after that whatever comes,” the senior pacer stated.

Also Read: “India Is a Fantastic Side, So I’m Sure It’s Going To Be a Fantastic Series”– Sam Curran