Team India could be boosted by the possible return of star pacer Mohammed Shami to the squad for the final two matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024 25 against the Australians down under. The series stands level at 1-1 at the end of two Tests of the five-match series and West Indies legend Andy Roberts heaped praise on the 34-year-old pacer Mohammed Shami who could feature for the side in the fourth and fifth Tests slated to be played at the MCG and SCG respectively.
West Indies pace legend Andy Roberts cannot comprehend why a fit-again Mohammed Shami has yet to be recalled to the India Test squad for the remainder of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. Mohammed Shami is India’s best bowler, even better than Jasprit Bumrah, while Mohammed Siraj is nowhere near his class, said West Indies legend Andy Roberts.
Mohammed Shami’s current fitness and performance in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024
A 10-wicket defeat to the Aussies in Adelaide on Sunday has heightened India’s batting and bowling woes. The fast bowlers, barring Jasprit Bumrah, have failed to rise to the occasion. Meanwhile, Mohammed Shami, who resumed bowling duties after a year’s break with one Ranji Trophy outing last month, played a crucial role in leading Bengal to the quarter-finals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 tournament.
On Monday, the 34-year-old Mohammed Shami cracked an unbeaten 32 off 17 deliveries against Chandigarh in Bengaluru, with his 1/25 in four overs also helping the side through a narrow victory. Mohammed Shami has bowled 31.3 overs across eight outings in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the second-most among all bowlers. He has picked up nine wickets in the tournament, the second-most for Bengal. Mohammed Shami’s last Test outing was in the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia at the Oval.
Roberts’ comments come at a time when Mohammed Shami’s availability for the remainder of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is still in doubt. The veteran of 64 Tests has not played for India since the ODI World Cup in November last year. His last Test match was also against Australia in the WTC final in June last year.
After recovering from a long injury layoff, Mohammed Shami has looked in fine form for Bengal in the solitary Ranji trophy match and T20s that he has played. After playing a major role in taking Bengal to the knockouts, picking up 8 wickets in seven matches at a 7.67 economy, Mohammed Shami played a match-winning hand with both bat and ball against Chandigarh to take them to the quarterfinals. Mohammed Shami scored an invaluable 17-ball-32 and bowled 13 dot balls in his four overs.
Antiguan Andy Roberts, who led the famous West Indian pace quartet from the mid-70s, hailed Shami as the complete pace-bowling package.
West Indies legend Andy Roberts urges India to bring back pacer Mohammed Shami for Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25
Andy Roberts labelled Shami as India’s best bowling option and went on to enumerate the special things the seamer from Aligarh is capable of doing with the red cherry.
“Shami has been India’s best bowler for a while,” Roberts said.
Andy Roberts opined that Shami might not feature as many times on the wicket sheets as compatriot Jasprit Bumrah does, but has the consistency to rival the pacer from Gujarat.
“He may not get the amount of wickets Jasprit Bumrah gets, but he’s the full package and is more consistent than the rest,” the 73-year-old Antiguan stated.
Roberts lauded Shami’s ability to swing and seam the ball in addition to his masterful control over the ball.
“Shami swings the ball, Shami seams the ball and Shami’s control is as good as Bumrah’s,” Roberts added.
India opened the series on a positive note as the visitors took an early lead with their 295-run win over the Aussies at Perth in the opener, but were pegged back by Pat Cummins and Co. who registered a 10-wicket win at Adelaide in the second Test.