How Shami became a deadly ODI bowler, the coach revealed the secret, how he made himself perfect during lockdown

Mohammed Shami Bowling: Shami took 23 wickets in the World Cup 2023, out of which 18 wickets were taken in the second innings of the match. His straight seam position has been the talking point of this tournament, but it is his ability to swing the ball both ways in the evening that has made him a lethal bowler.

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Shami was once considered only a test bowler

At one time Shami was considered only a Test bowler, who gave away runs in limited overs. But the story of him becoming a lethal bowler is hidden in the early days of his cricket career. Shami comes from Shasapur in Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh.

Shami’s coach revealed the secret

In an interview with Indian Express, Shami’s childhood coach Mohammad Badruddin revealed how he has always been a brave bowler and he also advised him to bowl with the cross seam. But Shami, who was a man of few words, also got angry at this advice.

“He glared at me and told me, these cross seams are put by cowards,” says Badruddin, laughing. My strength is the seam and I will not compromise on that.”

Shami’s coach said, “He never uses the cross-seam. Even if his balls get beaten, he does not compromise on his seam position.”

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Badruddin says that during the lockdown in 2020, Shami started working on his whiteball bowling.

Shami had prepared a floodlit cricket pitch at his farmhouse.

He said, “Every morning, he would place six white balls in a bucket filled with water. During that time he had prepared a floodlit cricket pitch at his farmhouse. He used to bowl with those wet balls continuously for three to four hours at night.”

It took Shami three years to master the white ball.