4th Test: 'Wayward' Shami turns heads in commentary box as Indian legend slams call to rest seamer in Indore
WATCH: PM Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese meet Ind-Aus players before 4th Test
"Resting Mohammed Shami was not a smart move. You had 8 days break between the 2nd and the 3rd Test. He bowled military medium in his first two deliveries," Gavaskar said on air for Star Sports during the 4th Test.
Speaking further on Shamis off-track line and length early on, the former India legend said instead of troubling the batter with the new ball, he made them comfortable by not being on point. Unlike how it happened in the previous three Tests, the pacers failed to break the opening stand this time as it was Ravi Ashwin who got out Travis Head.
"That's how it's got to be. The batter is nervous; he is not yet off the mark. If he sees the ball go harmlessly to the keeper, he gets an opportunity to see what the pitch is doing. He can then mentally start to relax just that little bit," Gavaskar added. "Great bowlers were at you straightaway, from the first ball.
"He is just not getting his line right. Look at how far that went. It's going to be called byes because it hasn't gone away from the marker, which indicates wide. I think you know that Mohammed Shami is the kind of bowler who likes to be in rhythm, may be you shouldn't rest him. I think it's important to get your bowling muscles going, in the gym, you don't get your bowling muscles going," Gavaskar added.
However, Shami returned with a big wicket of Marnus Labuschagne on just three. Before lunch one day one, Australia were two wickets down but looked in a space on a track that surprised Rohit Sharma during the toss.
Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 6:22 am