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Tom Moody has offered his insights on India‘s decision to use Mohammed Shami with the new ball in the high-stakes final of the ODI World Cup 2023 against Australia.
India’s decision to start with Mohammed Shami
In the summit clash, India opted for a strategic shift in their bowling approach by introducing Shami with the new ball. This move marked a departure from the team’s previous strategy, where Shami had been utilized as a one-change bowler in earlier matches.
Challenges faced by Shami in the final
Despite being a seasoned campaigner, Shami faced challenges with the new ball in the final. While he managed to picked the crucial wicket of David Warner, one of Australia‘s most formidable batters, his overall impact was mixed. Controlling the swing, a crucial aspect of early overs in limited-overs cricket, seemed to pose difficulties for Shami. The result was a leak of runs in the initial phase, as reflected in his seven-over spell that conceded 47 runs.
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Australia chased down the target with ease
This strategic shift had broader implications for India’s overall game plan. The inability to create substantial pressure in the early stages of the innings meant that Australia could comfortably chase down the 241-run target set by India. The decision to alter Shami’s role in the bowling lineup became a point of scrutiny and discussion among cricket analysts and fans alike.
Tom Moody’s take
In a conversation with ESPNcricinfo, Moody expressed his view that the decision to hand the new ball to Shami in the CWC 2023 final against Australia was not a well-thought-out move.
“He didn’t have the same control of the swing. Even though you are talking about a difference of three or four overs in receiving the ball, that’s a significant amount of time with one of those white-balls, because that really does swing. Mohammed Siraj has had that new ball in his hand for the last year and has done a remarkable job. Maybe that decision might have been something that was not thought through as well as it could have been, given the evidence that the analysts tell us,” Moody said.
Despite Shami’s relative lack of impact in the final match, he concluded the tournament as the highest wicket-taker with an impressive tally of 24 wickets from seven games.
