Mohammed Shami Is India's Best Test Bowler, Could Fit In South Africa's Attack: Fannie De Villiers
Fanie de Villiers, the former South African fast bowler, has hailed Mohammed Shami as India’s best Test bowler and added that the right-arm pacer could easily find a spot in the highly-competitive Proteas pace attack.
Shami is the second leading wicket-taker in the ongoing Test series, having picked up nine wickets in the first two games including the fiery spell in the second innings of the Centurion Test that brought back India in the game. On the fourth day, AB de Villiers and Dean Elgar had provided a solid start to the Proteas by adding 54 runs in quick time. But before the duo could inflict further damage on India, Shami helped his side claw its way back in the game by taking three quick wickets.
“Shami is a good bowler. He could play for South Africa and fit into their pace attack very well,” de Villiers told PTI after Shami took 4-49 in the second innings at Centurion.
“He has a beautiful out-swinger, runs in hard, bowls at 140s, and most importantly, he consistently bowls that line to first slip. He bowls the line Glenn McGrath did, Shaun Pollock did, Ian Botham did, Dale Steyn does, and so, he is India’s best Test bowler,” he added.
The former pacer further gave an insight on what skill sets are required for a bowler to excel in South African conditions.
“When you are bowling in South Africa, it is important to have that away-swinging line. Shami has that. Hardik Pandya has that too, but he doesn’t have too much pace. Until he gets that pace he will not be a big wicket-taker. He will fit into India’s overseas plans very well though, because he bowls that away-swinging line. Bhuvneshwar Kumar also has that, but he didn’t play in Centurion,” he said.
Ever since the defeat in the second Test, India’s playing eleven has been questioned by many. In fact, skipper Virat Kohli had even lost his cool in the post-match press conference when asked about his tendency to change the playing eleven in every match.
India made three changes to the team that lost in Cape Town, bringing in Ishant Sharma, KL Rahul and Parthiv Patel for Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shikhar Dhawan and injured Wriddhiman Saha respectively. And just like many, de Villiers was also surprised to see the exclusion of Bhuvneshwar who had taken six wickets in the first Test including the spell in the first innings which had South Africa reeling on 12 for 3.
“I am genuinely surprised that Kumar didn’t play. He should be playing all overseas Test matches for India. He is someone who can take the ball away from right-handers and then bring it back into left-handers as well,” de Villiers said.
That is the future of world cricket on quicker wickets and this has been the past. Jasprit Bumrah bowled well, but he primarily bowls into the right-hander, or bowls into the stumps. Even on flat wickets like Centurion, Kumar can average 4 wickets per match. It was a big mistake not picking him,” he added.
De Villiers went on to explain why Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah’s inclusion in the team was not a wise move.
“Ishant Sharma bowls into the stumps. Bumrah bowls into the stumps too. In South Africa, you cannot have two pacers bowling into the batsmen on a wicket like this. Bumrah bowled well in patches yes, but is he going to take 8-9 wickets in a Test? How many times has Ishant picked 8-9 wickets in a Test?.”
“He cannot, because he bowls an incoming delivery into the bat. Kumar can do it, Shami can do it, and they have done it before if I am not mistaken, because they have the away going delivery. So, Shami is your future, Kumar is your future, and they bowl quick enough to be in that category. Even Pandya is your future (if he adds a little pace),” he added.
De Villiers also expressed his surprise over the Indian team management’s decision to skip practice match or even arrive early to get accustomed to the conditions. He also heaped praise on Kohli for his sublime 153-run knock but was critical of other Indian batsmen, saying that they have shown a complete lack of perseverance to bat in South African conditions.
“No traveling team is doing well nowadays. Even one match is not enough. You need to play 3, 4 or even 5 practice matches, like during old English tours when you played different counties, and then play the first Test.
“It doesn’t happen these days with packed calendars. If you play one practice match, are you really going to pick up everything in 2-3 days? It is very difficult so you need to spend a good 2-3 wickets in South Africa, or wherever else you go, especially if you are a sub-continental team traveling overseas. That might make a difference later,” he said.
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