‘Shami’s control is as good as Bumrah’s’: West Indies legend Andy Roberts urges India to bring back pacer for Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Antiguan Roberts, who led the famous West Indian pace quartet from the mid-70s, hailed Mohammed Shami as the complete pace-bowling package.
West Indies pace legend Andy Roberts cannot comprehend why a fit-again Mohammad Shami has yet to be recalled to the India Test squad for the remainder of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
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, 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 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.
Antiguan Roberts, who led the famous West Indian pace quartet from the mid-70s, hailed Shami as the complete pace-bowling package. “Shami has been India’s best bowler for a while. He may not get the amount of wickets Jasprit Bumrah gets, but he’s the full package and is more consistent than the rest.
“Shami swings the ball, Shami seams the ball and Shami’s control is as good as Bumrah’s. Shami should play. Mohd Siraj is nowhere near Shami,” Roberts told mid-day.
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. Shami’s last Test outing was in the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia at the Oval.
Speaking on Shami’s potential return after the Adelaide loss, India captain Rohit Sharma said the doors are open provided a complete fitness check. “We are just monitoring him because while playing Syed Mushtaq Ali, he got some swelling in his knee, which hampers his preparation to come and play a Test match. We want to be more than 100 per cent sure with him because it has been a long time. We don’t want to put pressure on him to come here and do the job for the team,” Rohit said.