Shami not just skilful but also smart, says India's bowling coach

Bharat Arun felt Shami’s “game awareness and his reading of the conditions and the situation have improved by leaps and bounds.”

Breaking the foe’s back: Mohammed Shami just blew away the Proteas on the final day.

Mohammed Shami is not just a skilful bowler but also smart. Ask India’s bowling coach Bharat Arun.

In a chat with The Hindu on Sunday, Arun felt Shami’s “game awareness and his reading of the conditions and the situation have improved by leaps and bounds.”

Arun, who has worked extensively with Shami, said “You can see that from the way he adapts to different pitches and adjusts his length. He now knows on which surface to pitch it up and on what track to bowl the good length.”

Shami’s explosive bowling here — five for 35 — blew away the Proteas on the final day and was reminiscent of his destructive fourth-innings five for 28 against the same opposition that gave India an away win at the Wanderers in 2018.

Arun said, “On wearing fourth-innings pitches he is dangerous because he consistently bowls at around 140 kmph, seams the ball, swings it including reversing it, is skiddy and is always on target. He is at the batsman all the time.”

He was pleased with Shami’s line. “He consistently bowls just outside off, the fourth-stump line, and moves the ball away or brings it in from there. This means he is making the batsman play all the time.”

Arun noted, “Greats such as Vivian Richards and Ian Chappell have been very impressed with what Shami brings to the table.”

Shami has been used in short bursts so that he can go full throttle even in tough conditions. “He is a high impact bowler,” said Arun.

The Shami Express continues to speed ahead leaving behind a trail of shattered stumps.