Sources have stated that two days before the first Test against New Zealand has got underway in Kanpur, Anil Kumble was very forthcoming on his viewpoint about the pitches for this series, and later in a 13 Test long home season, it is obvious that the wickets will take a lot of the spotlight, particularly given how South Africa were given unplayable, has doctored pitches last year.
Meanwhile the four Test series against the Proteas was a ghastly experience, for the watching or paying fans and broadcasters alike, as well as for the visitors. Tests in Mohali and Nagpur together has lasted less than seven days, as the balance between bat and ball was taken to another extreme in the garb of home advantage.
But, in the first innings of that same Test, Ishant had been on fire with the new ball, and the disparity in his bowling across four days was almost a highlight reel of his career performances.
Shami’s role as such would that be of an enforcer, mixing it up with spinners when holding one end tight, or when reverse swing comes into effect and his varied skill-set allows him to be the holding factor in different permutations whether the leader of a five-pronged attack or balancing the pace component in a four-bowler selection, particularly if Kohli opts for one pacer and three spinners.
