Mohammad Shami: In the world of cricket, all-rounders are often celebrated for their ability to contribute both with the bat and the ball. However, there are instances where a cricketer’s bowling prowess far exceeds their batting capabilities, and their role as a specialist bowler becomes more prominent. One such Indian cricketer who fits this profile is Mohammad Shami, a key member of India’s pace attack, particularly in limited-overs cricket.
Known for his lethal pace, accuracy, and ability to swing the ball, Shami has proven himself to be one of India’s premier fast bowlers in all formats. Despite his crucial role with the ball, his batting statistics have not been as impressive, leading to a unique situation where his bowling average is higher than his batting average.
Mohammad Shami: The Fast Bowler with Impressive Skill Set
Mohammad Shami, known for his pace and swing, made his debut for India in 2013 and has since been one of the mainstays of India’s fast bowling attack. His ability to reverse the ball and his skill in seam movement, particularly on flat tracks, has earned him recognition both domestically and internationally. Despite his invaluable contributions with the ball, Shami’s batting has often been limited, with the lower order generally not being expected to contribute much in terms of runs.
Career Overview:
- Test Matches Played: 60
- ODI Matches Played: 91
- T20I Matches Played: 17
- Total Wickets (Test): 216
- Total Wickets (ODI): 181
- Total Wickets (T20I): 18
- Bowling Average (Test): 30.13
- Batting Average (Test): 11.37
- Bowling Average (ODI): 29.53
- Batting Average (ODI): 10.54
- Bowling Average (T20I): 19.44
- Batting Average (T20I): 2.80
- Best Bowling Figures (Test): 5/35
- Best Bowling Figures (ODI): 4/35
- Best Bowling Figures (T20I): 3/17
From the statistics above, it is evident that Mohammad Shami’s bowling average in both Test cricket and ODIs is lower than his batting average. His bowling averages are highly competitive, reflecting his effectiveness as a bowler. However, his batting statistics are quite poor, and his contributions with the bat have been limited to lower-order cameos.
Mohammad Shami’s Bowling Strengths
Shami is widely regarded as one of India’s finest fast bowlers in recent years. His ability to bowl with pace and swing in all formats of the game has earned him recognition as one of the key figures in India’s bowling attack. Shami’s wickets have come in a variety of conditions, and he has played a vital role in India’s triumphs in international cricket, particularly in ODIs and Tests.
Key Bowling Contributions in ODIs, Tests, and T20Is
| Year | Opponent | Wickets Taken | Match Result | Bowling Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Sri Lanka | 5/71 | India won | Shami played a key role in India’s victory in the Test series |
| 2018 | South Africa | 3/55 | India lost | Key contribution with the ball despite the loss |
| 2019 | Australia | 4/35 | India won | Integral part of India’s victory in the World Cup |
| 2020 | New Zealand | 3/54 | India lost | Wickets in challenging conditions, though India lost the series |
| 2021 | Australia | 4/37 | India won | Crucial wickets in a historic Test series win in Australia |
| 2022 | West Indies | 3/31 | India won | A dominant performance in the West Indies |
Shami’s best bowling figures in Tests of 5/35 in a match highlight his ability to pick up five-wicket hauls on a consistent basis. In limited-overs cricket, Shami’s best bowling figures of 4/35 in an ODI showcase his ability to perform well in high-pressure situations. He is also known for his ability to reverse the ball and maintain tight lines in the death overs of limited-overs cricket.
Mohammad Shami‘s Batting Struggles: Lower-Order Contributions
While Shami has made occasional contributions with the bat, his batting average in both Tests and ODIs is quite poor, and he has not been able to establish himself as a reliable lower-order batsman. As a tail-ender, his role is to support the other batsmen when required, and though he has shown resilience in some instances, his primary job remains as a bowler.
| Year | Opponent | Runs Scored | Match Result | Batting Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Sri Lanka | 5 | India won | Came in late and played a brief cameo |
| 2017 | Australia | 12 | India lost | Solid but short-lived contribution with the bat |
| 2019 | West Indies | 0 | India won | Failed to make a significant impact with the bat |
| 2020 | Australia | 14 | India won | Useful runs at the end to support the batting lineup |
| 2021 | England | 7 | India lost | Lower-order contribution in a challenging situation |
| 2022 | New Zealand | 3 | India won | Came in late and was dismissed quickly |
Shami’s highest score in Test cricket is 51—a rare moment where he contributed significantly with the bat. However, such innings are few and far between, and his overall contribution with the bat in longer formats remains marginal. Similarly, in ODIs and T20Is, his batting performances are rarely significant enough to alter the course of a match.
Comparing Mohammad Shami‘s Bowling and Batting Performance
To better understand how Shami’s bowling outshines his batting, we will compare his statistics to those of other renowned Indian cricketers who have also had a higher bowling average than their batting average. This comparison will highlight how Shami’s bowling has been far more consistent and effective than his batting.
| Player | Matches Played (Test) | Batting Average (Test) | Bowling Average (Test) | Best Batting Score (Test) | Best Bowling Figures (Test) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Shami | 60 | 11.37 | 30.13 | 51 | 5/35 |
| Zaheer Khan | 92 | 24.23 | 32.94 | 88 | 7/87 |
| Sreesanth | 27 | 13.47 | 30.48 | 87 | 5/75 |
| Ishant Sharma | 105 | 4.65 | 32.41 | 16 | 7/74 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 21 | 18.79 | 26.73 | 63 | 6/82 |
In the table, we can see that Mohammad Shami’s bowling average of 30.13 in Tests is competitive when compared to other bowlers like Zaheer Khan, Sreesanth, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, whose batting averages are higher than Shami’s. Shami’s batting average of 11.37 in Tests is notably low compared to his peers, demonstrating how his batting contributions are often limited to the lower order and do not significantly alter the match.
Mohammad Shami‘s Role in Indian Cricket: An Unsung Hero with the Ball
Despite his relatively poor batting record, Mohammad Shami remains one of the most important fast bowlers in Indian cricket. His consistency, especially in foreign conditions, and his ability to extract bounce and swing, make him a key figure in all formats of the game. His bowling average in both ODIs and Tests shows his effectiveness as a bowler, and his wicket-taking ability makes him indispensable to India’s success on the international stage.
In recent years, Shami has been a pivotal part of India’s fast-bowling attack, particularly in challenging overseas conditions. His ability to bowl in all formats and adapt to different conditions is a testament to his skill, and he has been a part of several memorable moments for India, including the historic Test series wins in Australia and the 2019 World Cup.
Conclusion
Mohammad Shami is one of India’s leading fast bowlers, known for his pace, swing, and wicket-taking ability. His bowling average of 30.13 in Test cricket and 29.53 in ODIs is a testament to his consistency and effectiveness with the ball. However, his batting average of 11.37 in Tests and 10.54 in ODIs remains considerably lower, highlighting his struggles with the bat. Despite his limitations with the bat, Shami’s contributions with the ball have been instrumental in India’s successes on the international stage.
Shami’s career exemplifies the role of a specialist bowler who may not excel with the bat but consistently delivers with the ball, making him an invaluable asset to the Indian team in all formats of the game.