Big blow for India as Prithvi Shaw ruled out of Australia Test series

XtraTime Web Desk: India’s young opening batsman Prithvi Shaw, who had missed the first two Tests against Australia with injury, has now been ruled out of the rest of the series.

Mayank Agarwal has been called up as his replacement.

Shaw sustained his injury while fielding during a tour game against a Cricket Australia XI. He hurt his ankle attempting to take a boundary catch. It had been hoped he would regain fitness for the latter stages of the series, but it has now been confirmed that he will miss the duration.

The news will come as a blow to India, with the 19-year-old Shaw having impressed on his early forays into the Test arena; his first two Test innings brought him 204 runs, including a 99-ball century on debut. India’s opening pair, KL Rahul and Murali Vijay, have struggled in his absence, with neither having hit a half-century in their combined eight innings in the first Two Tests.

Shaw’s replacement, Agarwal, is yet to make his Test debut, but is experienced at the domestic level. He averages 50.30 in first-class cricket, with a high score of 304 not out. He also struck a half-century in his most recent first-class innings, for Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy.

The second Test is ongoing, with India requiring 175 runs with five wickets in hand heading into the final day at Perth.

The news will come as a blow to India, with the 19-year-old Shaw having impressed on his early forays into the Test arena; his first two Test innings brought him 204 runs, including a 99-ball century on debut. India’s opening pair, KL Rahul and Murali Vijay, have struggled in his absence, with neither having hit a half-century in their combined eight innings in the first Two Tests.

Shaw’s replacement, Agarwal, is yet to make his Test debut, but is experienced at the domestic level. He averages 50.30 in first-class cricket, with a high score of 304 not out. He also struck a half-century in his most recent first-class innings, for Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy.

The second Test is ongoing, with India requiring 175 runs with five wickets in hand heading into the final day at Perth.