Wasim Akram dissects Mohammed Shami's bowling run-up

The former Pakistan cricketer Wasim Akram is extremely pleased with the current pace bowling attack of India in Tests. The trio of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah picked the maximum of the 60 wickets that the visitors picked in the recently concluded three-match series in whites. They also helped the team win the third and final Test match in Johannesburg. However, Akram believes that there is a technical flaw in Shami’s bowling run-up and feels he will be mighty effective in England if he rectifies the same.

Akram is currently in Switzerland ahead of the St. Moritz Ice Cricket tournament to be played between the Diamonds XI and Royals XI. While Shami is in South Africa warming the bench in ODIs after enduring a decent Test series. The left-arm pace legend, however, felt that Shami could be a more potent bowler if he resurrects a few issues in his bowling strides.

Shami needs to be more consistent

Wasim Akram praised Shami but felt that he should always try to hurry the batsman with his pace. “Shami is a good bowler but sometimes I feel he is a bit laidback. As a fast bowler, irrespective of the match situation, he should just sprint in and try to hurry the batsmen, who have a front foot trigger movement,” he was quoted as saying by sportstar live in Switzerland.

He also believed that the erratic strides in his run-up is hindering the consistency of Shami in his bowling. Akram also explained the way he could resurrect the issue. “During his run-up, Shami, at times, tends to take small strides before his final load up to the crease. Now when he is in rhythm, his strides are correct and equally measured but moment he gets a bit wayward, his strides get smaller. It should always be the opposite,” the 51-year-old added.

“When the length of the stride decreases, a person’s bowling action doesn’t get completed. The force that is generated from the back goes missing and one loses out on a lot of pace,” he concluded while also pointing out the fact that Shami has a dodgy knee and needs to work on his lower body muscles.

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