Former cricketers, Mark Waugh and Abhishek Nayar discussed India’s pacers after the first ODI game at Mohali.
The hosts outplayed the Aussies as Shami took a fifer in the game to dismantle Australia for 276.
It is also one of Shami’s best performances in ODI cricket for India and he is making a strong case for India’s playing XI in the ODI World Cup.
Moreover, the first of Shami’s wickets was makeshift opener, Mitchell Marsh who was caught in slip by Shubman Gill.
After that, he struck once again as he dismissed Steve Smith who looked well set at the crease. And finally, he grabbed three more wickets in the death overs.
With Shami’s constant strikes, the Aussies weren’t allowed to make a headway in the game.
Commenting on Shami’s bowling, Mark Waugh says,
He hit the perfect length and that’s where he got the batsmen caught at the crease. So not too short or not too full. Just the perfect length where you get a little bit of movement. You’re going to hit the stumps still, but the batsmen can’t get a four. Shami was always threatening with that half-volley length. It’s a fine margin, but on this type of track, you need to be spot on.
Nayar puts forth his views on the Shami vs Siraj debate
Meanwhile, Abhishek Nayar commented on whether India will opt to go with Mohammed Siraj or Mohammed Shami as both are strong contenders at the moment.
While Siraj impressed one and all with his bowling performance in the Asia Cup final, Shami has also proven himself after his heroics at Mohali.
Therefore, it is going to be exciting on who will pair up with Jasprit Bumrah in the ODI World Cup.
It’s going to be an interesting match-up between the two. There’s going to be this thought process of picking wickets. You got to know the importance of picking wickets in today’s game because India managed to bowl out a strong Australian batting line-up where you’ve got Sean Abbott batting at No.10. So, it just tells you that when you have bowlers capable of picking up wickets, there may well be a toss-up between a Shardul Thakur where you are thinking whether or not you are thinking of going with that all-rounder’s slot or going with an out-and-out bowler who can pick you wickets in every phase of the game.
India and Australia will take on each other tomorrow at Indore after which they will play at Rajkot on the 27th of September.
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