The whole cricket fraternity agrees that Jasprit Bumrah is the world’s best bowler. But West Indies legends and one of the greatest fast bowlers, Andy Roberts, feels Bumrah isn’t even the best Indian pacer. He instead picks Mohammed Shami. Why? For starters, he thinks Shami’s the whole package. He’s got more skills than Bumrah, i.e., he swings and seams the ball, and as far as control goes, he’s on par with Bumrah.
Why Shami’s better than Bumrah
No one’s doubting Shami‘s credentials. He had one of the greatest ODI World Cup campaigns last year; one can’t really compare him to Bumrah, especially in Test cricket. Bumrah happens to be the first bowler since Sydney Barnes to take more than 180 wickets and still average under 20. But Roberts has made up his mind.
“Shami has been India’s best bowler for a while. He may not get the amount of wickets Jasprit Bumrah gets, but he’s the full package and is more consistent than the rest. Shami swings the ball, Shami seams the ball, and Shami’s control is as good as Bumrah’s,” Roberts told Mid-Day.
India needs Shami in Australia
Shami’s absence happens to be one of the reasons why India lost the Adelaide Test, is what Roberts thinks. He doesn’t question Mohammed Siraj, who’s India’s second pacer at the moment, but is he on the level of Shami? No, says the West Indian great. “Shami should play (in the Australia vs India Test series). Mohammed Siraj is nowhere near Shami,” Roberts added.
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Shami-Siraj comparison
Of course, the record would suggest so as well. While Shami has impeccable control and constantly bowls near the stumps, Siraj has often been criticised for his wayward bowling. Within one innings, you’ll find Siraj bowling as good as anyone, but then later, he’ll be bowling down leg or giving freebies outside off. Although Siraj has been good in the India vs Australia Test series so far, had he been the third pacer after Bumrah and Shami, things would have been much better for India.
Shami’s fitness
The issue is that Shami isn’t available. His fitness won’t allow him to travel to Australia. If reports are to be believed, he needs to be tended to by the physio after his 4-over spell in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. If he’s unable to march on after bowling just four overs, what will happen in Australia, where he needs to bowl around 15-20 overs a day?
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