Fast bowler returning to full fitness after injury
Debasis Sen, Bengaluru: Indian fast bowler Md. Shami is regaining full fitness. Shami, who missed the first test match in Pune due to injury, was seen bowling full throttle at India nets today. The selectors will meet here on the last day of the test match to pick the squad for the third test match at Ranchi. Unfortunately, none of the selectors were present though at the NCA nets to see the fast bowler bowl.
Shami, who hasn’t played any cricket after injuring his knee during third Test against England in November, is eyeing a comeback in the Vijay Hazare Trophy matches. The fast bowler was not part of the East Zone squad for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and he hasn’t been included among the Bengal probables for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Indian team had an optional training session today. Apart from Shami, left arm pacer Barinder Sran was also seen bowling to the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, KL Rahul and Karun Nair. The lanky pacer was called to prepare them well against Mitchell Starc, specially the openers. It will be a tricky selection as both Vijay and Rahul has failed to blossom with opening partnership.
While the Australians had a rigorous training session in the morning, the hosts preferred to keep an optional training session. Captain Virat Kohli, Cheteswar Pujara, Murali Vijay, Wriddhiman Saha, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ravichandran Ashwin were given rest on Thursday. The rest of the squad who came for the practice were given catching practice by both Kumble and fielding coach Sridhar before the regular net session.
The wickets at Chinnaswamy looked a lot dry today compared to what was seen on Wednesday. According to Mitchell Marsh, “The wicket here looks a lot dry with cracks beginning to open.”
The Aussie all-rounder played a crucial 80 balls in the second innings that paved the way for Steve Smith and his team post a daunting fourth innings total in Pune. “On the wicket like in Pune you had to have a good defence to survive, and for me if the ball was up I was going to take it on, certainly in the second innings,” Marsh said today.
“That’s what I did, and it’s certainly a different game plan. Even though I made only 30 being out in the middle for 80 balls certainly gave me a lot of confidence,” said Marsh.
The Indians are 0-1 down in the four test series after being outplayed in all departments at Pune by Australia to suffer an embarrassing defeat by a margin of 333 runs.