Wellington, Nov. 7 -- Former South Africa pacer and India bowling coach Morne Morkel has paid tribute to Mohammed Shami following the latter's decision to retire from Test cricket, recalling how the Indian speedster helped him adapt to the dressing-room environment when he joined the team.

Morkel, who joined head coach Gautam Gambhir's coaching staff in 2024, credited Shami with helping him understand the team's culture and overcome the language barrier.

While the two never had the opportunity to work together in the Test setup, they shared a brief stint during the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, which marked Shami's final appearance for India.

"I was quite fortunate when I first started with the group for Shami to be a part of the team. I ...