Former South African cricketer Daryll Cullinan heaped praise on Indian seamer Mohammad Shami for his stunning performance in the ongoing Boxing Day Test against South Africa in Centurion.
Shami returned with the superb figures of 5/44 to help Team India restrict to 197 in the first innings to attain a 130-run first-innings lead, which further increased to 146 with India finishing the day on 16/1 on Tuesday (December 28) in the ongoing first Test of the three-match Test series in Centurion.
In the process, Shame became the fifth Indian pacer after Kapil Dev, Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan, and Ishant Sharma to complete 200 Test wickets. Following his wonderful performance, Cullinan said that the way Shami bowls reminded him of the Proteas great Shaun Pollock and England’s James Anderson.
He further lauded Shami's variations and skills and explained the factors that make him so good.
Cullinan told ESPNCricinfo: “Just watch his seam position. It is perfectly up there. Watching him bowl reminded me of Pollock and Anderson that doesn't seem to waste the ball. He was on strike constantly with subtle variations and seam positions. It's not as if the batters are anticipating his line and length.”
He concluded, “It's just that control which may vary a foot wider and foot fuller. That’s what to me makes him so good. He finds that in-between length which is the big key….He is constantly asking you questions. There is a thought process behind everything he does.”
