Ishant Sharma and Rohit Sharma have been reportedly ruled out of the first two Tests of the upcoming four-match BorderGavaskar Trophy between India and Australia slated to begin from December 17 in
Adelaide.
ESPNcricinfo confirmed the development and stated the hopes of both the players to take part in the last two Tests hinges on “swift and decisive action” from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
To be in contention for the third Test which begins January 7 next year in Sydney, Ishant, who has regained bowling fitness, will have to board a plane almost immediately, the report further said.
“If there is a T20 game and he needs to just bowl four overs, Ishant is good to go immediately, but for him to get back to Test-match fitness, he needs four weeks of proper bowling still,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
Rohit, on the other hand, is currently at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) recovering a hamstring injury he suffered during the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
However, according to the report, the batsman is understood to be a while away from full fitness. He can be cleared travel only in the second week of December and will need two weeks of further rehabilitation after which a final assessment can be made.
As Ishant Sharma and Rohit Sharma have been reportedly ruled out of the first two Tests, Australian players, all geared up, are hustling and bustling with preperations.
Australian players who were involved in the previous home Test series defeat to India are motivated to make amends, says Test captain captain Tim Paine. Australia lost to India 2-1 in 2018-19 — their first ever series defeat to an Asian side in the longest format of the game on home soil.
“I know that it drives a lot of the guys that were involved in that and I certainly know Steve (Smith) and David (Warner) are looking forward to coming back and showing just how good they are as well,” Paine told 2GB’s Wide World of Sports radio.
“Everyone is absolutely pumped. The key is going to be last time we didn’t get enough runs, this time, I
think a few of our players have spoken about i t . I f we can make their fast b Australia batsman Steve Smith has said that his ability to start well against India has resulted in a good record against the arch-rivals, adding that he loves to stand up and be counted in a big series like the Ashes or the BorderGavaskar Trophy.
Smith has an exceptional record against India, scoring 1,429 runs in 10 Tests at an average of 84.05.
“The first Test and first game I have (always) started very well against India, been able to get in a bit of rhythm. It has then helped me throughout the rest of the series. It has probably something to do with it. Other than that, I am not really sure (why I have a good record against India),” Smith told reporters on Tuesday
