Why Mohammad Shami is the weak link in the Indian Test bowling line-up

#5 Putting a price on his wicket

England v India: Specsavers 5th Test - Day Five

It is not every day that I agree with the views of former India batsman and current commentator Sanjay Manjrekar who, when Shami played a reckless shot to be dismissed by Adil Rashid at a crucial juncture in India's first innings in the fifth Test, opined that he should be punished by being demoted to number 11. Whilst I think the word 'punished' is harsh, I do agree with the sentiment.

Cricket has evolved a lot in the past decade and even the bowlers are now expected to chip in with the bat. Especially in Test Cricket, bowlers who put a price on their wicket are being appreciated. In the same innings, the great Harsha Bhogle praised Jasprit Bumrah relentlessly for surviving a testing over from Stuart Broad by doing what it takes, blocking the ball with a straight bat, leaving the ball on length and taking a blow on the body, if necessary.

Test Cricket is a lot about determination and temperament and Shami seems to lack the will to fight it out for the team the ugly way like Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah. He seems intent to play one way and not bother much about the situation. That's not what you expect from your bowlers these days and that's certainly not what we'd get from Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

As such, I believe, Shami should be the one Bhuvneshwar Kumar should replace once he's fully fit.