2 weeks Ago By Jon Pierik
The news Australia’s hopes of regaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade have been given a major boost with India’s surprise decision to overlook veteran fast bowler Mohammed Shami for the five-Test series beginning next month. Shami, who was a key player in India’s victory on Australian shores in 2018-19, with 16 wickets across the four Tests, was a bold omission, prompting former Australian seamer Damien Fleming to declare his absence “significantly damages” India’s hopes. Rohit Sharma’s squad will also be without injured left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
Overlooked: Mohammed Shami will not be a part of India’s blue chip tour of Australia this summer. Credit: AP The tourists, who have been put to the sword by New Zealand in their current Test series at home, are likely to plump for Akash Deep as their third quick, behind Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Off-spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar, and left-arm finger spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, will lead the slow bowling in the 18-man squad.
The series begins in Perth on November 22. Fleming said he was surprised that Shami – one of only 11 Indians with 200 or more Test wickets – had been overlooked. “That decision significantly damages their chances of winning out here,” Fleming said on Saturday.
“I would have just brought him here even if he’s not fit until the third Test.” How did we get here Shami, 34, indicated last week he was over an ankle injury and would be fit for the trip after time with Bengal in the Ranji Trophy, having not played for India since the 2023 one-day World Cup. He has also been seen working on his fitness during intervals in the ongoing Test series against the Kiwis.
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