Mohammed Shami Ahmed: Impress or depress?

A hint of swing or the cherry that jabs right back at the abdomen! Which is the delivery that the common cricketing batsman sincerely loathes? I would obviously suggest the latter. The Indian bowling department has struggled throughout the years, with glimpses of hope shuffling alternately with mighty tides of disappointment. We saw Irfan Pathan, now almost a decade ago, burst into the scene with a terrific talent to swing the cricket ball. His debut series was impressive and we only saw his performances and consistency wane as the years passed finally leading to him being dropped from the team.

Ishant Sharma, am I to give you any information regarding this fellow? He has a certain sparkling talent but I believe there is a serious channeling problem for the same. We have had many down the years, VRV Singh, Umesh Yadav, the list goes on and most of these players are still young but lacking the nectar of determination that lures one to greatness.

The spotlight after today’s performance at the Eden Gardens in the first Test match of the West Indies series (which will eventually see out Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement) is on Mohammad Shami Ahmed. I watched the fellow run up, swing his arm and deliver that little red cherry with a humble nonchalance that was vigorous!

Picking up four wickets, three of which before the tea break, I must say I’m impressed! I like the shape of his deliveries, the simplicity of his run-up and the terrifying skid of his swing! True, another revelation in the Indian bowling department. The cynic will write him off as another piece of talent that will end up in the dusty cupboard of talented Indian bowlers who have failed to progress from the initial stages of their career into something great.

However, I choose to believe otherwise. With strong support from his captain and a high-morale Indian side (at the present moment), his talent has found a good ground to establish itself. Expect a lot more from this fella! He’s a jabbing in-swinger who can pull the essentials right off your abdomen! Watch out!