Mohammed Shami: The Sultan of Seam

Some have dubbed Wasim Akram the Sultan of Swing. The title "Sultan of Seam" belongs to Mohammed Shami.

With four catches of five wickets or more in an innings, Shami has now amassed the most wickets in this World Cup. This is mostly because to his precision with the seam, which is the outside stitching of the cricket ball that serves as a grip for the bowler.

Since the ball moves only after it hits the pitch, using the seam is a skill that may test even the greatest batters. The batsman's talents are put to the test by the unpredictable movement of the ball as it touches down.

At this Wednesday's Wankhede Stadium, New Zealand batsmen were found short in skills. As they pushed towards India's 398 mark, skipper Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell briefly caused some anxiety in the Indian camp.

The Indian captain Rohit Sharma's decision to bring back Shami for a second session exposed the New Zealand batsmen to the dangers of elite seam bowling.

Some have dubbed Wasim Akram the Sultan of Swing. The title "Sultan of Seam" belongs to Mohammed Shami.

With four catches of five wickets or more in an innings, Shami has now amassed the most wickets in this World Cup. This is mostly because to his precision with the seam, which is the outside stitching of the cricket ball that serves as a grip for the bowler.

Since the ball moves only after it hits the pitch, using the seam is a skill that may test even the greatest batters. The batsman's talents are put to the test by the unpredictable movement of the ball as it touches down.

At this Wednesday's Wankhede Stadium, New Zealand batsmen were found short in skills. As they pushed towards India's 398 mark, skipper Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell briefly caused some anxiety in the Indian camp.

The Indian captain, Rohit Sharma, exposed the weakness of the New Zealand batsmen against seam bowling of the highest caliber after bringing back Shami for his second spell.

The Indian bowler tried his luck after seeing Williamson and Mitchell try the reverse sweep and flick in the past. His second ball brought in prizes. Williamson tried to move in line to clear the short square boundary, but Suryakumar Yadav positioned himself at backward square leg to hang onto the opportunity.

Tom Latham was left stranded after two balls as one darted in with the seam. He was so naive that he didn't even wait for the umpire to rule.

Shami could not possibly be stopped. Mitchell did manage to mount a short fightback for New Zealand, but by the end, the exhausting heat had taken its toll on him as well.

In the last Powerplay, Shami came back and claimed three more wickets to make seven, the most number of wickets ever by an Indian in an ODI. With 23 wickets in six games, he has soared to the top of the bowling standings after being left out of the first four matches. Once he gets into the wicket-taking mood, it's hard to restrain him.

But why are his stats so noteworthy? Is it only the seam's placement, as the majority of former cricket players would note in their analysis?

Shami's seam location has been described as the "straightest thing in the world" by Australian batter Glenn Maxwell.

The legendary Akram of Pakistan was more precise. "You must possess the assurance... Shami bowls having seams that are straight. His ball strikes the straight seam on the deck. He doesn't bowl with a shaky technique. The pitch is kissed by his seam. Akram said on A-Sports, "He doesn't bang it in."

Although it varies depending on the bowler, wrist placement is also crucial. Shami lands the ball with an upright seam, while Jasprit Bumrah utilizes his wrist posture to advance the ball.

Shami executes a fluid move that includes a fluid run-up, a steady acceleration, a prompt leap using the non-bowling arm, and a flawless follow-through. It moves at an astonishing speed because of the vertical seam and his 140 kmph speed.

The wobbling seam is used in English conditions by some, like as Stuart Broad and James Anderson. The bowler adopts an angle akin to the outswinger and separates their fingers over the seam. The ball wobbles and moves in either direction after pitching due to the late wrist flip.

Shami, 33, is a bowler who has always been analytical and uses a Test mentality to approach the 50-over game in order to obtain wickets. He often assaults the stumps, making it harder for the hitters to take calculated chances.

Ben Stokes' nine deliveries of crippling pain before being forced to submit is maybe the greatest example of Shami's precision in action in Lucknow.

To break their trophy drought at the ICC, India will need to put up another excellent effort.