Often described as a Test specialist, Shami became the fastest Indian to 150 ODI wickets during the course of India’s 10-wicket win over England. (Photo credit: AP)

While Jasprit Bumrah made headlines on Tuesday for one of the finest displays of fast bowling in India's ODI history, he was not alone in the annihilation of one of the most feared batting units in the world. Mohammed Shami produced the perfect support act, returning with three wickets including the two big ones of Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler. Often described as a Test specialist, Shami became the fastest Indian to 150 ODI wickets during the course of India's 10-wicket win over England.

Shami, interestingly, has the second-best bowling strike rate for a fast bowler in ODI cricket.

Shami got rid of two of England's most feared batsmen - Stokes and Buttler - making optimum use of the green tinge on The Oval wicket, the overhead conditions and the high temperature and humidity which aided swing and seam bowling. His best delivery of the day was the one he bowled to Jonny Bairstow at the end of the first over of the England innings. The ball swung and rose off a length past the off stump to leave the English batsman in all sorts of trouble.

Shami then got the better of Stokes in his very next over, getting one to not only nip back off the seam but also swing to take the edge of the left-hander into the hands of Rishabh Pant. If Bumrah had led the ambush with the new ball, it was Shami who performed the last rites of the famed England top-order leaving them in tatters at the end of the mandatory powerplay.

Shami wasn't done though. Skipper Jos Buttler was England's last hope and given his recent exploits against the Netherlands the home team were in the contest till he was at the crease. However, Shami, brought back by Rohit Sharma for a second spell, squashed any such dreams of a fightback as Buttler fell to his short-delivery trap holding out to Suryakumar Yadav at deep square. The England No. 5 had pulled Shami for a boundary behind square just off the previous delivery but the bowler was up to the challenge again, digging it short and the extra bounce did Buttler in. At 59/7 in the 15th over, it was a game, set, and match for India.

Shami ended with 3-31 in his seven overs also going through the defence of Craig Overton with his favourite delivery - the vertical seam sneaking through the bat and pad of the all-rounder. During the course of the match, Shami became the fastest Indian to 150 ODI wickets achieving the feat in his 80th match (79th inning). The second-fastest for India is Ajit Agarkar who took 97 ODIs to reach the 150 club. In fact, Shami became the third-quickest (in terms of matches) to the landmark after Mitchell Starc (77 matches) and Saqlain Mushtaq (78 matches). Rashid Khan also took 80 matches to reach 150 wickets. Even in terms of the number of deliveries, which is an indicator of his outstanding wicket-taking prowess in ODI cricket, Shami became the fifth-fastest to the 150-wicket club after Starc, Ajantha Mendis, Saqlain and Rashid.

The second-best strike rate for a pacer in ODI history

Shami has a tally of 151 wickets in 80 ODI matches at an average of 5.61 but what stands out is his ability to take wickets. Shami's bowling strike rate of 27 is the second-best for a fast bowler in ODI cricket (min. 100 wickets). Only Starc is ahead on the list - the Australian has a strike rate of 26.1 in the format. To add to the Indian seamer's phenomenal wicket-taking prowess in the 50-over format is his quality of dismissals - 105 of his 151 wickets have been of the opposition's top 6 - i.e a whopping 70%. The corresponding percentage for Bumrah is 53%.

A great start - highest wicket-taker in the world from debut till the end of 2015 WC

Shami had a splendid start to his ODI career and was the leading wicket-taker in the world in ODI cricket from his debut (against Pakistan in 2013) till the end of the 2015 World Cup. He returned with 87 wickets in 47 matches at an average of 24.89 but it was again his strike rate - of 26.9 - which stood out in this time frame.

However, a knee injury, personal issues and some poor selection kept him out for most of 2016, 2017 and 2018. Shami made a comeback in Australia in January 2019 and since then has never looked back.

The resurgence of Shami in ODIs post-2019

Shami is the third-highest wicket-taker in the world for all bowlers from major cricket-playing nations in ODIs since the beginning of 2019. He has bagged 57 wickets in only 28 matches at an average of 24.12 and strike rate of 25.2 in this time frame. Only Adam Zampa and Mustafizur Rahman have a higher tally in this period but it is again his wicket-taking prowess which is Shami's quintessential quality in this time frame. Shami's strike rate of 25.2 is the best in the world, even better than Starc and Shaheen Shah Afridi in this period.

Shami has led India's attack and has been their highest impact bowler since 2019. The second-best, in terms of wickets - Yuzvendra Chahal - is nine wickets behind. The second-best, in terms of average and strike rate - Bhuvneshwar Kumar - is some distance away at 27.78 and 30.8. Just for perspective, his performance at The Oval notwithstanding, Bumrah has struggled in this period and has bagged 41 wickets at an average of 30.56 and strike rate of 37.4.

The best strike rate in SENA countries in ODI history

Shami's ability to bowl with a straight seam and swing the new and old ball coupled with his line and length and accuracy make him lethal in helpful conditions in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) countries. He has picked 83 wickets in 38 matches at an average of 21.12 in these four nations but again it is his wicket-taking propensity which makes him a very dangerous bowler in these conditions. Shami's strike rate of 22.8 is the best for any bowler - home or visiting - in SENA in ODI history. He has left legends like Starc, Brett Lee, Shane Bond, Waqar Younis and Trent Boult behind on this count.

Shami also has a phenomenal record in the flagship tournament of the ODI format - the 50-over World Cup. He has picked 31 wickets in just 11 matches across two editions at an average of 15.7 and strike rate of 18.6 - again the best among all bowlers in the world (min. 30 wickets). He returned with 17 wickets in just seven matches at the 2015 edition in Australia and New Zealand. To raise one's game in the premier competition of the sport showcases another quality in Shami - rising to the occasion in big matches. With the next World Cup in India barely a year and a half away, Shami will be one of India's trump cards with the ball along with Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

This quality of Shami to pick high-quality opposition wickets is not restricted to the ODI format only. His strike rate of 50.1 in Tests is the best for an Indian pacer (min. 150 wickets) and places him at No. 11 on the all-time list. Shami has picked a wicket every 17 deliveries in the IPL since 2019, just marginally behind Bumrah on strike rate (16.8). The latter is widely regarded as the finest all-format bowler in the world today. Based on the evidence above, Shami cannot be far behind.

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