Australia’s 276-all defeat of India in the first ODI

With excellent stats of 5 for 51, Mohammed Shami reminded everyone of his prowess while helping India limit Australia to 276 in the first ODI here on Friday.

With his second five-wicket haul in ODIs, Shami, who doesn’t seem to be in India’s first XI plans for the World Cup, made a message.

His performance also placed a ton of pressure on Shardul Thakur, the weakest link among pacers (0/78 in 10 overs), who was mostly chosen for the 15 due to his batting abilities.

When David Warner had just gotten off the starting blocks, Shreyas Iyer dropped a dolly at mid-off, which Shardul would deem unfortunate.

KL Rahul, the captain of India, decided to bowl in favorable circumstances for batting. Shami was almost unplayable in his initial period, and he returned in a brief second stint to dismiss a set Steve Smith (41 off 60 balls), breaking the momentum of the visiting side.

Stocky wicketkeeper Jos Inglis (45 off 45 balls) and Marcus Stoinis (29 off 21 balls) contributed 62 runs for the sixth wicket to help Australia over 250 runs, but it was undoubtedly below average since Shami bowled Stoinis just in time to stop their scoring.

Warner (52 off 53 balls), Smith, and Marnus Labuschagne all had starts, but the Australians’ lack of success cost them the match on a day when the Indian bowling unit was quite proficient but not particularly strong.

Ravichandran Ashwin (1/47 in 10 overs) was the center of attention, and while seeming rusty in the first stint, he did rediscover his rhythm in the second. In his first six overs, he took 36 wickets for 36 runs, then Rahul swapped ends in the second stint, making it read 4-0-11-1.

Freak dismissals cost the Australian squad as well. First, Labuschagne misplayed an Ashwin delivery while attempting to play a reverse sweep, and Rahul was out of his crease when the ball ricocheted off his pads.

The next batsman was Cameron Green (31 off 52 balls), who gradually but effectively built up Inglis until a misunderstanding resulted in his run-out.

Shami, who is perhaps the most adaptable seam and swing bowler of his time and has magic in his fingers and wrists, though, can never get enough credit.

Shami delivered a ball that moved in the air and just deviated away after pitching in his very first over. Shubman Gill was able to make a legal catch with the thick outside edge because the ball was full and pitched at a length where Mitchell Marsh had to go forward.

Before Ravindra Jadeja (1/51 in 10 overs) ended the threatening-looking 94-run partnership between Warner and Smith, Warner had six fours and two sixes.

He attempted the slog sweep but failed to gain the necessary height or distance, getting himself into a deep hole.

However, Shami’s second over was crucial because it included a brilliant in-cutter that jagged back enough for Smith to inside edge onto the stumps because he took too long to react.

He bowled one stumps in his third over, and Stoinis’ heave over the line caused his stumps to fall.

Shami demonstrated his versatility during his first period by frequently pitching the ball on three quarter length, drawing Warner forward, but teasingly slipping beyond the edge of his bat.

Shami’s absence from India’s key first-XI plans for the top two pace bowling positions is regrettable. When three spinners are on the field, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj have clashed horns, and Hardik Pandya is being considered as the third seamer.

The issue is that this team’s management relies too much on Shardul Thakur’s sporadic performance, who can be careless with the ball while having a successful penchant for picking off wickets. Shami demonstrated on that day that there is just no comparison in terms of quality.

Brief ratings:

Australia: 276 all out in 50 overs (Josh Inglis, 45; Mohammed Shami 5/51) (David Warner, 52; Steve Smith, 41).