ICC world Cup 2019 | My yorkers are still as potent as they used to be and I will bank on them, says Mohammed Shami

ICC world Cup 2019 | My yorkers are still as potent as they used to be and I will bank on them, says Mohammed Shami

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Mohammed Shami has sounded a warning bell for other batsmen in the upcoming World Cup by stating that he will be bowling a lot of fiery yorkers. Shami, having rediscovered his mojo in limited overs cricket, will form a crucial part of arguably the best bowling attack among the other teams.

Mohammed Shami made an emphaticĀ comeback for India in limited overs cricket in the ODI seriesĀ againstĀ Australia in their backyard. HeĀ scalpedĀ 19 wickets in the three series he has played since his return and even emerged as the highest wicket taker, with 19 wickets, for Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League. Since his debut, he has wreaked havoc with his ability to swing the ball inwards at a quick pace but now he has evenĀ sharpenedĀ his yorkers. He has shown his death bowling prowess in the recent times, as pointed out by him.

"I worked on my game during the time I was away from the field and didn't lose focus of my aim - to get back into the national reckoning. I have returned stronger, faster and fitter. My yorkers are still as potent as they used to be and I will be using a lot of them during the World Cup. I back myself to bowl fast, incoming deliveries and it wouldn't be easy for batsmen out there to hit me," Shami expressed, reported TOI.

Pakistan are currently playing a five match ODI series in England and the pitches have turned out to be a batsmanā€™s paradise. After the first match ended without any result, England smashed 373 runs in the next ODI with Pakistan falling short of the target by just 13 runs. The hosts chased down 359 and 341 in quite comfortably in the next two one dayers respectively. This gives a trailer as to how the pitches will behave in the quadrennial event but it does not worry Shami.

"Flat pitches in England have become a batsman's paradise in limited-overs cricket. But a bowler has to be smart enough to alter his line and length according to the conditions. I have the pace and swing to outsmart them. I am not overly worried about it. In fact, I believe the conditions are suited for my bowling. The late movement outside the off-stump will definitely come in handy," he explained.

"Reverse swing has always been my strength. That would also come into play,ā€ the 28-year-old added.

Jasprit Bumrah will lead the pace attack for India and he is a sure starter in the playing XI. There will be a fight for the spot of the second pacer between Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in case the skipper Virat Kohli decides to go ahead with just two pacers. This might happen more often than not as the side also has two pace bowling all-rounders in Hardik Pandya and Vijay Shankar. However, the Bengal bowler reckoned that each bowler knows his role very well.

"We are a happy bowling bunch. We discuss a lot among ourselves. We are not shy of taking each other's advice, that's the kind of freedom we enjoy. I tell Bumrah about a certain bowling aspect and he does the same with me. Our experience makes us a very strong bowling unit. We know our roles going into the World Cup and exploit the conditions accordingly," signed off Shami.

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