Mohammed Shami, an Indian fast bowler, returned to the team for the fourth Test match against Australia in Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. Due to workload management, he missed the third Test at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.
On Day 1 of the ongoing fourth Test, the speedster’s first outing was a little errant as Australian openers Travis Head and Usman Khawaja made a strong start to their innings. Sunil Gavaskar, a former cricketer for India, questioned the team management for resting Shami for the third Test because there was an eight-day gap between it and the fourth Test after noticing Shami was out of rhythm.
“Resting Mohammed Shami was not a smart move. You had 8 days break between the 2nd and the 3rd Test. He bowled military medium in his first two deliveries. The batter is nervous, he is not yet off the mark. If he sees the ball go harmlessly to the keeper, he gets an opportunity to see what the pitch is doing. He can then mentally start to relax just that little bit,” said Gavaskar on Star Sports.
“Great bowlers were at you straightaway, from the first ball. I think, you know that Shami is the kind of bowler who likes to be in rhythm, may be you shouldn’t rest him. I think it’s important to get your bowling muscles going, in the gym, you don’t get your bowling muscles going,” he added.
With nine wickets taken at an average of 18.44, Shami has taken the most seamers in the series. Rewinding to Day 1 of the fourth Test, Australian captain Steven Smith decided to bat first after winning the toss. Before Ravichandran Ashwin took the first strike for India, openers Head and Khawaja scored 61 runs for the first wicket.
With his second spell, Shami re-entered the battle and quickly and cheaply sent Marnus Labuschagne back to the pavilion by destroying his stumps. Smith entered at number four and appeared to be in fine form, but he was once again victimised by Ravindra Jadeja, who caused him to chop the ball back onto his stumps, leading to his dismissal for 38.
Peter Handscomb was the second victim of Shami’s second wicket of the day. Khawaja proceeded to hold the other end while all of this was going on and struck a superb hundred. Khawaja scored 104* as Australia’s first day came to a close, while Cameron Green had scored 49*.