Indian senior pacer Mohammad Shami was excellent with the ball as the fast bowler completed a five-wicket haul in IND vs AUS 1st ODI on Friday. After opting to bowl first, Indian pacers were right on the money. Shami gave India the first breakthrough as he dismissed opposition skipper Mitchell Marsh. To note, Shami also took the crucial wickets of Steve Smith and Marcus Stoinis as he totally punctured the Australian batting line-up.
“We really enjoy each other’s success. The last seven years we have played together, we really have enjoyed and backed each other. This is the result you get to see,” Shami said at the mid-innings break.
To work with the new ball, set the tempo, this is the responsibility. Yes, probably. You all were in AC but we were in the humid conditions [on asking about leaving the field after four overs spell. You have to bowl the slower in the right length and that is what you got to see in the results. Yes, the team needed it. We want the confidence to be built. Thank you so much,” he added.
India quicks with an ODI five-for vs Australia:
5/43 – Kapil Dev, Trent Bridge, 1983
6/42 – Ajit Agarkar, Melbourne, 2004
5/51 – Mohammed Shami, Mohali, 2023
As mentioned above, Shami provided India with a head start by removing dangerous Mitchell Marsh in the very first over. Shami came back for his second spell and knocked over Smith before Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green tried to build a partnership for the 4th wicket. Green, Josh Inglis, and Marcus Stoinis got starts but none of them were able to provide the finishing to the Aussie innings.