Former Australia allrounder Tom Moody described Mohammad Shami as a big match player and backed him to feature in Team India’s playing XI against Pakistan in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.
Shami has not played a T20I match since the T20 World Cup 2021 but managed to impress one and all in just 6 balls in the warm-up match against Australia, taking 3 wickets while giving away only 4 runs.
Moody was really impressed with Shami’s performance in the warm-up match and said that there was no harm in picking the pacer in the starting XI for their T20 World Cup 2022 opening match against Pakistan on October 23 at the MCG, given his expertise and experience.
Tom Moody said at Star Sports show ‘Game Plan’: “He (Shami) may be short with some volume in his bowling, but that one over he bowled against Australia would have gone a long way with regards to not so much the physical side of things, but definitely the mental side of things.”
The 57-year-old believes that Shami would make a formidable pace attack alongside Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh for India in the tournament.
He added, “I'd be going with Shami. I'd just go with his experience. Obviously, Bhuvi and Arshdeep are the first two. I just think that in big tournaments, you back big players. And he's a big player with a lot of experience.”
Meanwhile, Moody believes that the upcoming high-octane clash will be a battle between Indian batters and Pakistan bowlers.
He explained, “I think it's an intriguing contest because to me, India are a batting strong side while Pakistan, I think, are a bowling strong side. So, for me it's a real contest as to how well India bat against a very strong new ball attack. If they get through that, I see India controlling the game.”
The Aussie added, “But that's where they need to manage -- in the first six overs. Now, we know its T20, we know its Power Play, we also know that if we want to get off to a flyer, we have to manage that carefully. So, I'm not saying you need to be conservative, you need to be watchful.”
Moody also said Team India and Pakistan teams both would have to be tactfully aware of playing at the MCG. The Aussie further noted, “Another thing to take into consideration is the big boundaries. Yes, there will be big boundaries at the MCG, we know that.”
He concluded, “It's a big venue, so the short ball and the use of that length, hard length, with that change of pace into that length, is the key to bowling at the MCG. So, I'm sure that both teams are very aware of what the tactical play is with the ball in those top, end overs and particularly in those defensive overs.”
(With PTI Inputs)
