Bouncers that would have made the original practitioners – the fiery West Indian fast bowlers of the past – proud, were bowled with gusto by Mohammed Shami here on Monday afternoon. His lines were excellent, and when he pitched it short, the ball kept climbing towards the batsman’s forehead.
Shami ensured that India kept Australia’s overall lead within 300 but in the evening’s press conference, while the second Test is seemingly headed towards an Indian defeat, the fast bowler was at the receiving end of a bouncer.
He was asked whether India missed a specialist spinner and Shami replied: “The team management makes these decisions. We can’t do anything about it. We had one spinner (Hanuma Vihari) who didn’t bowl badly. If you ask me, I feel there should have been a spinner, but these things depend on your management.”
READ| India vs Australia: Shami shines but India on brink of defeat
Perhaps it’s his version of straight-talk but it also revealed that India missed a trick in not playing Ravindra Jadeja.
When talk veered towards his head-threatening spell, Shami said: “I always try to bowl a good line and length. Rest is up to your luck, how many wickets you get or not. Your approach has to be good and you will get the wickets automatically.”
The odd variable bounce was on view and asked to rate the pitch, Shami replied: “On the first two days, the wicket was very good. But the third day (onwards) it was a little up and down and there is uneven bounce as well.
READ| India vs Australia: Kohli-Paine spat not a big issue, says Shami
"And the ball is keeping low at times. But it is like a normal Perth wicket and that’s how it has played so far. It is on everybody’s mind that on days three and four, there will be some up and down deliveries and we are getting to see this.”
As for the match easing into Australia’s pocket, Shami philosophically summed it up: “Part of the game. Winning and losing happens.”
Comments
SHARE