"He Helped Me Quite a Lot": Morne Morkel Recalls Shami's Impact
Former SA pacer Morne Morkel recalls how Mohammed Shami helped him adapt to India's dressing room after the speedster retired from Test cricket.
Former South African speedster and current Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel has shared an emotional tribute to Mohammed Shami following the Indian pacer's decision to retire from Test cricket. Morkel revealed that Shami played a pivotal role in helping him integrate into the Indian team's environment when he first joined the coaching staff under head coach Gautam Gambhir in 2024.
Bridging the Gap in the Dressing Room
Transitioning into a new coaching role can be challenging, and for Morkel, the language barrier and cultural nuances were initial hurdles. He credited Shami for being a bridge between him and the rest of the squad, helping him navigate the team's culture and communicate more effectively.
"I was quite fortunate when I first started with the group for Shami to be a part of the team. I was quite lucky when I joined for him to bring sort of the Indian language into the dressing room. He helped me quite a lot. So sad a day to see him go," Morkel stated.
While the duo did not work together extensively in the Test arena, they shared a brief but meaningful stint during the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which served as Shami's final appearance for the national side.
The End of an Illustrious Era
Mohammed Shami announced his retirement from the longest format of the game via a post on Instagram. At 36, the pacer leaves behind a legacy as one of India's most lethal and dependable weapons with the ball, regardless of the venue or conditions.
A Statistical Powerhouse
Shami's career was defined by his impeccable seam position and the ability to extract movement from both the new and old balls. His record in Test cricket speaks for itself:
- Total Wickets: 229 wickets in 64 Tests.
- Five-Wicket Hauls: 6 times.
- Away Performance: 145 wickets in 41 away Tests at an average of 30.33.
A Journey of Resilience
Since making his debut against the West Indies in 2013, Shami evolved from a promising talent into a mainstay of the Indian pace attack. Despite battling various injuries that hampered his consistency at different stages, he remained a critical asset for India across all formats.
His final appearance in the Test format came during the 2023 ICC World Test Championship Final against Australia, marking the conclusion of a career that saw him conquer some of the toughest batting lineups in world cricket.