Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting believes Mohammed Shami’s absence in the final two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy cost India a crucial edge in the series.
Reflecting on India’s 1-3 series loss to Australia, Ponting shared his thoughts on The ICC Review. He suggested that Shami’s experience and skillset could have made a significant difference in a tightly contested series.
Ponting Questions Shami’s Absence
Ponting expressed surprise over Shami not being called up after the series was level at 1-1. Shami could’ve proved to be the perfect partner for Jasprit Bumrah, who was in red hot form.
“I was really surprised when he (Shami) wasn’t flown out even halfway through the series, two Test matches in,” Ponting said. “If Shami, even if he wasn’t fully fit, had to bowl fewer overs in a day, you had a backup seam bowling option to help him out. I think he could have been the difference.”
Ponting also highlighted how crucial Shami is to India’s pace attack. He felt the trio of Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj could have changed the outcome of the series.
Shastri Echoes Ponting’s Thoughts
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri backed Ponting’s view, emphasising Shami’s importance in high-pressure games. Shastri noted that Shami’s presence alongside Bumrah could have brought balance to India’s bowling attack.
“It got so tight at 1-1 going into Melbourne. You just needed that experience and support,” Shastri said. “For all you know, he might have raised the bar as well. It would have been two guys there – Bumrah and Shami.”
Shastri compared the situation to Australia’s use of Pat Cummins and Scott Boland. He explained that having an experienced pacer like Shami would have eased the pressure on India’s younger bowlers.
Shami’s Experience Could Have Made a Difference
Ponting and Shastri both agreed that Shami’s absence left a gap in India’s bowling unit. While Mohammed Siraj showed determination, they felt the team needed someone with Shami’s experience to step up in crunch moments.
“As hard as Siraj tried, you needed Shami’s experience there,” Shastri added. “He knows how to handle those situations.”
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The What-If Scenario
Ponting also recalled his earlier prediction of Australia winning the series 3-1, citing Shami’s absence as a key factor. He maintained that with Shami in the lineup, India could have pushed Australia harder in the final two Tests.
“When you asked me at the start about what I thought the result would be, I said 3-1 Australia because Shami wasn’t there. That’s how important I felt he was to India,” Ponting reiterated.
Shami’s last Test for India was the World Test Championship Final against Australia in June 2023 at The Oval.
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