New Delhi: Who should board the flight to Australia if Mohammed Shami remains unavailable for the all-important Border-Gavaskar Trophy as well? Australia great Brett Lee, who was inarguably one of the best pacers of his time, has asserted that Indian pace sensation Mayank Yadav should be on the plane to Australia if Shami is not available for selection.
Lee said that he has high hopes for the younger pacer on the kind of wickets that Australia possesses. With some truly bouncy and pace-friendly wickets like the Perth, Mayank can be an asset for the Indian team in the five-match Test series beginning on November 22. While India aims to qualify for a third successive World Test Championship (WTC) final, the selection of players remains a question that needs the right answers for the tough tour.
While Shami was supposed to make his comeback in the New Zealand series, the seamer was snubbed from the squad with his fitness concerns being the main reason. Meanwhile, Lee praised the young seamer saying that he looks someone who is a complete package and the best fit to replace Shami.
Mayank Yadav a complete package
The great Australian pacer asserted that Mayank Yadav is someone who looks like a complete package and if the seasoned Mohammed Shami is not ready, India can think of getting him in the squad. The Aussie great further said that Mayank should do pretty well on the Australian picthes.
“I can tell you that batters are okay when you bowl that 135-140 kmph speed, but when you bowl high 150s, I don’t care who it is, no one wants to face that,” Lee said.
Lee also told the reason for picking Mayank Yadav in the squad saying that since he gets to work a lot in the IPL, he gets the opportunity to see a lot of young Indian cricketers. He has seen Mayank at the cash-rich league and his energy will definitely suit the Australian conditions. Mayank has emerged as the new sensation for the Indian cricket team but is still to get much of the opportunities to perform at the national level for the team.
