Comeback-man Mohammed Shami reveals success mantra in Antigua Test
Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav picked up four wickets apiece to help India enforce follow-on on the West Indies after bowling them out for 243. Earlier, India had declared their first innings on 566/8, courtesy Virat Kohli's maiden 200.
In Short
- Mohammed Shami returns to international cricket with a bang.
- He picked up four wickets in his first Test after returning from injury layoff.
- India enforced follow-on on West Indies on the third day of Antigua Test.
Mohammed Shami joined forces with fellow pacer Umesh Yadav to rip apart West Indies batting line-up as India enforced follow-on after bundling the hosts for 243 . Earlier, India had declared their first innings on 566/8, courtesy Virat Kohli's maiden 200.
Shami, who is making a comeback to international cricket after nearly 18 months on the sidelines, ran through West Indies' middle order taking 4-66 before Umesh Yadav tore apart rest of the batting line-up with his 4/41. Leg-spinner Amit Mishra also chipped in with 2/43.
"We had batted on this wicket and knew that it was a slow wicket. The plan was to bowl at a consistent spot for long periods of time and that is why we were successful," Shami told BCCI.TV.
Shami never looked as if he is making a return after a lengthy layoff as his run-up to the crease was smooth, action was clear and he applied that extra effort that helped him extract good bounce.
"On slow wickets, the batsmen don't expect the short ball. So, that was our plan to bowl the short delivery as it would fetch us wickets," Shami, who is now joint fastest Indian pacer to 50 Test wickets, further said.
TOUGH PERIOD
Shami endured a torrid time off the field after his knee injury during the 2015 ICC World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. The Bengal pacer reveals the roles of his wife and daughter in motivating him overcome that phase.
"It has almost been 18 months since I last played a Test. I got injured in Australia and underwent a surgery. My wife helped me a lot through the period as I was bedridden for two months. In the same time, our baby (daughter) was born and that calmed me down as I was upset at getting injured since I was bowling really well. The birth of my baby helped me take the focus away from the game and I could reenergise myself.
'NO EXTRA LOAD'
"Also in the same period, I had put on about 15 kgs. I resumed my training and worked really hard in the NCA and then during the preparation camp. I felt that today I could carry on from where I had left. I didn't feel like there was any extra load. Today, I felt I bowled the same manner that I used to," he said.