Mohammed Shami took a leaf out of Anderson and Broad's book to gauge the English conditions
"Some things depend on luck too."
Back in 2014, Indian fast-bowler Mohammed Shami didn’t have an overwhelming tour of England. The fast bowler strained to get on top of the English batters and could only manage five wickets from three matches at a dismal average of 73.20. However, the ongoing tour of the nation has been fruitful for the 28-year-old speedster. In five matches, he picked up as many as 16 wickets.
His best figures of 4/57 came in the fourth Test at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton, which India lost by 60 runs and subsequently, the series as well. Recently, the Uttar Pradesh-born pacer mentioned that he analysed the video footages of James Anderson and Stuart Broad’s bowling in order to understand the techniques of succeeding in English conditions.
I saw what areas they bowled in
“If you compare my performances on this tour with those in 2014, I have improved a lot. Overall, all of us have done well. I’ve learnt a lot, especially how to bowl away from home, how focused you need to be. “I’ve got to learn a lot. In 2014 when I came here, I wasn’t that experienced.
I wasn’t mature either. This time, I watched videotapes of James Anderson and Stuart Broad’s bowling. I saw what areas they bowled in, in these conditions. I’ve got to learn a lot,” Shami was quoted as saying in NDTV Sports.
“Some things depend on luck too. When you bowl, your target is to bowl a good line and length. Whether you get a wicket or not depends on luck. Of course, it is frustrating that I beat the bat many times and still didn’t get a wicket. But it’s okay. Whatever God gives me, I have to accept,” the Bengal cricketer added.
Broad and Anderson have been the thorn in the flesh of many team’s batting lineups and they have bowled exceptionally in the ongoing series against India as well. Anderson, the current leading wicket-taker of the series, has thus far picked up 23 wickets and has the opportunity to add to his tally in the final day of the fifth Test at Kennington Oval in London. Broad also has 16 wickets to his name.
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