Indian right-arm fast bowler, Mohammed Shami has been nominated for the Test bowling performance of the year at the ESPNcricinfo awards.
Shami grabs his nomination after taking a five-wicket haul against South Africa in the first innings of the Centurion Test. Shami’s 5 for 44 marked 200 wickets in Test cricket, becoming the fifth fast bowler to achieve this milestone.
Shami’s bowling performance helped India in breaking South Africa’s walls. After Jasprit Bumrah’s ankle got twisted due to which he went off the field in South Africa’s first innings, Shami had to carry the load of it. As a result, he moved the ball both ways off the seam and ended up taking five wickets.
Keegan Petersen inside-edged a nip-backer onto his stumps and Aiden Markram loses his off stump to one that seamed away. Shami’s other three bowling victims were Temba Bavuma, Wiaan Mulder, and Kagiso Rabada – getting caught behind. India gained a first-innings lead of 130, which eventually led to a Test win.
The 31-year-old made his international debut in a One-Day ODI match against Pakistan in January 2013. In November 2013, he made his Test debut against West Indies, taking a five-wicket haul. The Indian pacer is also named himself the fastest Indian to take 100 ODI wickets.
