SHAMII GETS A PAT
■ Fanie de Villiers says the Bengal pacer is India’s best Test bowler
Johannesburg, Jan. 20: Former South African fast bowler Fanie de Villiers has praised Mohammed Shami as India’s best Test bowler and added that the Proteas could easily fit him in their highly- competitive pace attack. He also talked about how the Indian batsmen have not conserved their wickets in accordance with conditions here, conceding an unassailable 2- 0 series’ lead.
“Shami is a good bowler. He could play for South Africa and fit into their pace attack very well,” de Villiers said after Shami took 4/ 49 in the second innings at Centurion.
“He has a beautiful outswinger, runs in hard, bowls at 140s, and most importantly, he consistently bowls that line to first slip. He bowls the line Glenn McGrath did, Shaun Pollick did, Ian Botham did, Dale Steyn does, and so, he is India’s best Test bowler.”
Overall, Shami is the second- highest wickettaker in the Test series so far after Vernon Philander, with nine wickets in two Tests.
“When you are bowling in South Africa, it is important to have that away- swinging line. Shami has that. Hardik Pandya has that too, but he doesn’t have too much pace. Until he gets that pace he will not be a big wicket- taker.
“He will fit into India’s overseas plans very well though, because he bowls that away- swinging line. Bhuvneshwar Kumar also has that, but he didn’t play in Centurion,” he said.
India’s team selection has been a point of sharp debate with skipper Virat Kohli even losing his cool in the post- Centurion press conference when asked about his tendency to change the playing XI in every match.
For the second Test, Kohli had made three changes, with Kumar making way for Ishant Sharma while K. L. Rahul came in for Shikhar Dhawan. Parthiv Patel was a forced inclusion as Wriddhiman Saha was ruled out of the remainder of the tour with a hamstring injury. Ajinkya Rahane was sidelined again.
“I am genuinely surprised that Kumar didn’t play. He should be playing all overseas Test matches for India. He is someone who can take the ball away from righthanders and then bring it back into left- handers as well. That is the future of world cricket on quicker wickets and this has been the past. Jasprit Bumrah bowled well, but he primarily bowls into the right- hander, or bowls into the stumps. Even on flat wickets like Centurion, Kumar can average four wickets per match. It was a big mistake not picking him,? said de Villiers.
“Ishant Sharma bowls into the stumps. Bumrah bowls into the stumps too. In South Africa, you cannot have two pacers bowling into the batsmen on a wicket like this. Bumrah bowled well in patches yes, but is he going to take eight to nine wickets in a Test? How many times has Ishant picked eight to nine wickets in a Test?
“He cannot, because he bowls an incoming delivery into the bat. Kumar can do it, Shami can do it, and they have done it before if I am not mistaken, because they have the away going delivery. So, Shami is your future, Kumar is your future, and they bowl quick enough to be in that category. Even Pandya is your future ( if he adds a little pace).”
De Villiers wasn’t too pleased with the team management’s decision to skip a practice match or even arrive early to get accustomed to the conditions.
Whilst all praise for Kohli’s 21st Test hundred, he said the other Indian batsmen had shown a complete lack of perseverance to bat in South African conditions.