Shami is India’s best Test bowler: De Villiers

johannesburg — 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 highlycompetitive 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 told PTI after Shami took 4-49 in the second innings at Centurion.

“He has a beautiful out-swinger, 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 Pollock did, Ian Botham did, Dale Steyn does, and so, he is India’s best Test bowler.”

Overall, Shami is the secondhighest wicket-taker in the Test series so far after Vernon Philander, with 9 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 wickettaker.

“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 eleven in every match.

For the second Test, Kohli had made three changes, with Kumar making way for Ishant Sharma while KL 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 right-handers and then bring it back into lefthanders as well.” — PTI