Former India pacer Zaheer Khan feels that Prithvi Shaw, who was preferred over Shubman Gill and KL Rahul for the first Test in Adelaide, might find it difficult to retain his position in the Test team after failing twice in the ongoing Test against Australia in Adelaide.
Shaw is facing a tough phase of his career as he failed to impress with the willow again. The Mumbai batsman had failed in the last couple of Tests as well as in the warm-up games and facing up to the likes of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins in tough conditions would have been slightly difficult for him.
Shaw, who got bowled off the second ball of the Test match in first innings, could only survive 4 balls in the second innings after dropping a fairly regulation catch on Day 2. Pat Cummins found a gap between his bat and pad to castle Shaw for 4.
“Well I think, It works in your favour when you are getting runs. It can look bad when you are getting out. It’s equally difficult when someone figures it out. That’s what international cricket is all about. Everyone is just waiting to figure you out, find out your weaknesses and just attack. That’s what is happening with Prithvi Shaw at the moment,” Zaheer Khan told Sony Six after Stumps on Day 2.
“The wicket is also assisting them. Maybe in subcontinent conditions, you have that fraction of bit extra to adjust. Here it’s going to be a challenge to adjust to that pace as well and that is something which he will be facing for sure. Also the pace of the bowler, you know, not often you have 2 or 3 bowlers coming at you at 145 paces. That’s something which he has to adjust to,” Zaheer added.
“I completely agree with you that he might be missing in this (next) Test match. I mean the remaining of the series looks like it’s going to be difficult for him to take his spot. There was some speculation that he might not be starting the series. These kinds of total and that dropped catch,” Zaheer further said.
After Shaw’s departure, India decided to send in nightwatchman Jasprit Bumrah (0), who managed to survive and protect Mayank Agarwal (5) to take India to 9 for 1 in 6 overs at the end of day’s play with a lead of 62 runs.
Former England opener Nick Night also opened up on the Indian opener and said it will better for Prithvi Shaw if he is taken out of the playing XI as it will give him time to work on his technical deficiency.
“Sometimes when you reflect on your career, 10 years or 20 years later. There are certain moments in your career that actually work (at the time you feel against you) but actually work for you because you are taken out of the difficult situation.
It’s actually a bit of relief for you when you look back. This might be one of those occasions. It’s actually better for him if he is taken out of the team so he can go work at this technical deficiency,” Nick Night said.
