India vs South Africa: Mohammed Shami completed 200 test wickets on Tuesday© AFP
Mohammed Shami has been a bowler on a mission since he made his international comeback. His form, especially in red ball cricket, is excellent to say the least. On Tuesday, Shami registered a 5 wicket haul during Day 3 of the first Test against South Africa in Centurion, becoming the 11th Indian bowler and fifth paceman to complete 200 wickets in Test cricket. Shami was commended by the cricket fraternity for reaching the milestone.
His efforts have put India in the driver’s seat in the first game of the series. Shami’s average and strike rate are the best of all Indian fast bowlers, having played over 50 Test matches.
One man who has seen Shami turn into a force in international cricket up close and personal is former Team India batting coach Sanjay Bangar. Bangar was part of the coaching staff during Shami’s rise and on Tuesday he shared an interesting story about how the paceman overcame fitness hurdles to become one of India’s best bowlers of all sizes.
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“He’s someone who values Virat a lot because the hour comes the man, that’s what Mohammed Shami has been for the Indian team. He has since come back fitter because he was dropped for failing the fitness test at one point,” said Bangar on presenter Star Sports.
“He’s gotten stronger in his legs. His run is rhythmic. He walks nicely. And when you see Mohammed Shami running in that kind of rhythm, you know the wickets won’t be far away. If he gets close to the stumps, falls the stumps on all the time and with that seam upright, the ball can shoot either way, causing a lot of problems for any batsman,” he added.
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