Former Indian fast bowler Ashish Nehra said that Mohammed Shami fitness is going to be crucial for India. It is often noted that Shami bowls some moody spells. Meanwhile, Shami’s fitness in the recent past is under the scanner.
The fast bowler was not able to clear the Yo-Yo Test for the one-off Afghanistan Test which eventually ruled him out. Furthermore, the personal issues of Shami have added insult to the injury.
Shami should be given small spells, says Nehra.
Meanwhile, Indian fast bowling had proven their mettle on the South African tour. India had scalped all the sixty wickets on the Proteas tour, which was the biggest positive for the team.
Ashish Nehra said that Virat Kohli will have to handle Mohammed Shami with care. Nehra believes that Kohli should give Shami small spells to keep him refreshed.
“Fitness. He has had a bad knee. He has not played a lot of cricket recently, including in the IPL. The captain also has to look after Shami. He is not like Ishant [Sharma], who can give you an eight or nine-over spell. Shami can be given six to seven overs in the first spell and then a short burst of four to five overs, where he bowls all out,” Nehra told ESPNCricinfo.
Nehra added that he expects Ishant Sharma to deliver the goods. The former southpaw pacer said that Ishant who bangs the ball in the short pitch area should bowl according to batsmen as well as the conditions.
“Consistency. I know he is a workhorse and the captain will look to him for long spells, but he has to be careful not to burn out. I completely understand that he has that length, which is really short. But he should be able to alter that length a little bit, according to the pitch, according to the batsman,” Nehra added.
India’s bench strength will be tested in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Thus, the experienced fast bowling battery will have to pull up their socks. The visitors will take on England in the first Test match at Edgbaston, Birmingham on 1 August.