India vs England: How Mohammed Shami broke Alastair Cook’s defence in Vizag

Mohammed Shami produced a magnificent ball to dismiss England skipper Alastair Cook cheaply as India dominated the second day of the Vizag Test

Alastair Cook has a formidable record in India. During the Rajkot Test, he scored a century and went past 1000 runs in Tests in India. The magnitude of Cook’s record is such that it needs a special delivery to get rid of England’s Test skipper. On day two of the Vizag match, Mohammed Shami produced a delivery for the ages. (DAY 2 BLOG)

Mohammed Shami got the big wicket of England skipper Alastair Cook for 2 on the second day of the Vizag Test. (AFP)

India managed to reach 455 thanks to Virat Kohli’s 167 and R Ashwin’s 58. The hosts were pumped up when the Indian innings began, with Shami opening the bowling. (SCORECARD)

The Indian pacer immediately found the right lengths and lines in his first over. Bowling close to 90 mph and hitting the seam, Shami almost had Cook on the fifth ball when the ball straightened on off stump and the leading edge just went out of the bowler’s reach. On the sixth ball, Shami got the ball to nip back in but Cook got his bat down at the right time.

In Shami’s second over, after two tight deliveries, he struck gold with the third ball. Bowling from over the wicket, Shami landed the ball on a good length with the seam pointing up, it nipped back in off the pitch and went through the small gap that was left between Cook’s bat and pad, the ball crashed into the off stump and it broke the stump into two.