Bengal’s Mohammed Shami bowls a delivery on the third day of the Ranji Trophy cricket match between Madhya Pradesh and Bengal, at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (PTI Photo)
Following a year out with an ankle injury, Mohammad Shami made his return to professional cricket in Bengal’s Ranji Trophy fixture against Madhya Pradesh in Indore on Wednesday. The 34-year-old pacer’s injury return has raised hopes of his possible availability to play some role in India’s eight-week long five match series in Australia this winter.
While doubts have persisted about Shami’s potential readiness for the crucial Border Gavaskar Trophy, some of them were put to bed after he put together a stellar spell of 4/54 in 19 overs on Wednesday.
It was a performance strong enough to get Bengal coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla raving about the fast-bowler’s comeback. “Someone has come back after one year and has bowled 19 overs and taken so many wickets… what’s there to say,” Shukla was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo. “He came into the match without doing any match simulation. Can you imagine? But obviously if he plays more, he will get better.”
“He bowled one six-over spell and one five-over spell. Players who bowl in the IPL don’t even know how to bowl more than four overs. He bowled the sort of spells fast bowlers are expected to. I have never seen a fast bowler come back so strongly after one year away. What he did today is like a fairy-tale,” Shukla added.
The first Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy kicks off on November 22 in Perth, but there are long breaks in between for Shami to find match fitness and join the Indian team. The second Test is on December 6, and fourth is the Boxing Day Test on December 26; if Shami could return in time for either, it may boost India’s hopes for a third consecutive series win in Australia.
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First uploaded on: 15-11-2024 at 20:23 IST
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