New Delhi: Australia will benefit from the injured absence of India’s star pacer Mohammed Shami in the upcoming five-match Test series for the Border Gavaskar Trophy, their coach Andrew McDonald said.
Right arm quick Shami played a key role in India’s maiden Test series win in Australia in 2018 but has been on the mending table since the ODI World Cup final in November of last year.
He is yet to be fit from the ankle injury for which he had to undergo a surgery and is currently in rehab at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) though his return to action has been delayed due to swelling on his knees that kept him out of the squad for the Australia series.
“Mohammed Shami is a big loss,” McDonald was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo on ABC‘s Offsiders.
“The way our batters speak about his relentless nature, his line and lengths, the way he goes about his business, a real good complimenting skill set to Bumrah so think that one-two combo they’ll lack a little bit, and they’ll miss that.”
In his unavailability, India have called up Harshit Rana and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy for the first time to accompany Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj in the attack led by Bumrah.
“Needless to say we saw what happened last time, they had reserves that came in and did the job as well so they cannot be underestimated at all,” he added.
Australia also have a selection dilemma to fill the void of retired opener David Warner. Steve Smith has been tried out up top but with little success leading to suggestions that teenager Sam Konstas, who cracked two centuries in Sheffield Shield for New South Wales earlier this month, could be a worthy option to partner Usman Khawaja.
“I think we’re picking the best team for here and now, and if that does encompass a younger player, then we’ll head down that direction,” McDonald said, adding that if he is though to be ready then his thin first-class experience won’t come into the equation.
“I’ve heard people commentating ‘do you protect the player?’ If they’re ready, they’re ready in our mind, and if Sam’s capable and we feel as though is capable to fill that spot I don’t think that the opponent should come into the equation.”
