3 times Mohammed Shami made crucial contributions with the bat in Tests

Veteran pacer Mohammed Shami retired from Test cricket as one of India’s most dependable fast bowlers. Across 64 Test matches, he claimed 229 wickets and was primarily valued for his ability to move the ball and take wickets in all conditions.

While Shami’s bowling was always his primary contribution, he often stepped up with the bat and scored crucial runs for India in red-ball cricket. His career batting record across 89 innings shows 750 runs at an average of 12.10, with a strike rate of 74.63, two fifties, 83 fours and 25 sixes.

Here are 3 best batting knocks of Mohammed Shami in Tests:

1. 37 vs Australia, Nagpur, 2023

Shami was the star of the show during the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023, as he made an instant mark in the Nagpur Test by dismissing David Warner for an underwheling score, helping the hosts bundle out the Australians for 177 in the first innings. In reply, India posted a huge total of 400, out of which, Shami had made a crucial contribution down the order.

While India had lost their eighth wicket for 328, Shami joined a well-set Axar Patel at the crease. While Shami was supposed to play only a second fiddle to Axar, his contributions proved to be more than dominating for the Indian team. Shami smashed two fours and three sixes to finish with 37 off 47 before being undone by Todd Murphy. In the 52-run stand for the ninth wicket, he had the biggest contribution.

2. 51* vs England, Nottingham, 2014

Very early in his Test career, Shami had shown glimpses of what he could do with the bat when given the opportunity. Against a fearsome English attack consisting of James Anderson and Stuart Broad on India’s tour of the UK, Shami made his maiden half-century in Test cricket, which now stands as his second-best individual score in the longest format of the game.

Batting first, India were nine down for 346 with fans hoping that Shami could pair alongside Bhuvneshwar Kumar to stretch the score by 20-30 runs. However, the duo put on a 111-run stand for the last wicket, which is one of the most memorable partnerships for the tenth wicket in Test cricket. Shami remained unbeaten on 51, having faced 81 balls for a six and six fours as India posted 457. Bhuvneshwar made 58 off 149.

3. 56* vs England, Lord’s, 2021

The best individual batting score of Mohammed Shami in Test cricket is his 56 not out, scored against England at Lord’s in 2021. That innings came in the second innings of the Lord’s Test and was compiled off 70 balls, during which Shami struck six fours and one six.

It is also his highest score among his two Test fifties and stands as the peak of his batting contribution in the longest format. Shami finished his Test career with 750 runs from 89 innings across 64 matches, averaging 12.10 with a strike rate of 74.63.