Shami: Yorkers are the biggest weapon

India fast bowler Mohammed Shami has been a revelation for the side in the past year, taking top and tail wickets with equal aplomb, and was part of his side’s big win against the West Indies last week.

India won the second ODI to level the series, with Shami taking four wickets to help the Windies collapse. He removed both openers, before coming back at the death to take two more, and he credited his yorker skills.

Shami told bcci.tv: “I have always been ready to bowl at any kind of situation. Be it bowling with the new ball, or in between innings or at the death, I have always been ready to take up whatever responsibilities are given to me at a given situation.

“Being a fast bowler I understand that it is very important to own up to the new ball and towards the fag end of the innings. I work hard at the nets to be ready for certain situations.

“During our practice sessions, we as bowlers mark certain areas to bowl at. While bowling at the practice sessions we keep shoes in front of the stumps and try to perfect our yorkers.

“It is something that really helps us to get the yorker right during the match and I believe we have been trying to get it right. I feel the yorkers are the most important thing for a bowler to have in his armoury if he has to get better while bowling at the death.”

He added of other aspects he focuses on: “While bowling at the death you have to make sure that you bowl according to your field.

“If you bowl according to your field, then it gets tough for the batsmen to score runs off you. You have to keep in mind the fielding positions and the lengths you are going to bowl at.

“Also, reverse swing holds key. If a bowler gets good reverse swing then he can always put the batsmen in a spot of bother. It is not easy to pick the reverse swing and it is fun when you get your reverse swing right.

“I don’t find it too difficult to bowl at the death because I know for a fact that the less mistakes I make the better it will be for me.”

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