While deciding whether to use Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green in the Delhi Test, which begins on Friday, Australia has given itself the luxury of some additional time (February 17). The two players, who both have finger ailments and were significant omissions from Australia’s defeat in Nagpur, could be called upon to play with the visitors looking for a swift course correction.
For the record, despite long practise sessions at the Arun Jaitley Stadium two days prior to the Test match, both Green and Starc complained of varied degrees of discomfort. Mitchell Starc, who arrived in Delhi via direct flight, told reporters he had hoped to be a little further along in his recovery. Green, on the other hand, bowled at full speed but felt some difficulty when he first encountered quick throwdowns.
There isn’t much I can say to you. Green and Starcy had productive sessions yesterday; we will evaluate them later today. In his pre-game press conference, captain Pat Cummins said, “We don’t have a line through them yet, but we’ll see.
In particular, the 23-year-old Green is a pivotal piece on which Australia’s squad balance precariously rests. He can enable Cummins to play an additional spinner, who the team sorely needed in the loss at the VCA Stadium last week, as a fast-bowling all-rounder who can bat in the top six. Because of this, even if he isn’t a perfect fit, his selection is one that the team would be willing to take a chance on. But Cummins remained ambiguous.
The Australia skipper remarked, “Having a right hander helps, and him having our fifth bowling option also helps. “He’s a key player, and his batting and bowling contribute significantly to the team’s effectiveness. You have to be able to perform as well, and he has only had a few sessions where he has caught a hard ball because he is still recovering from the injury. He really enjoyed his session yesterday. We’ll watch to see how he stands up.
Scott Boland is a hard-working, albeit occasionally inconsistent, bowler. If Starc is deemed fit, he will likely replace Boland since the left-armer can produce enough rough markings for off-spinners Todd Murphy and Nathan Lyon to work with. But, Cummins believed that a discussion about the number of bowlers they would want to use needed to take place. He also said that, should Green be deemed fit, the squad might as well use an additional spinner in place of Starc.
“I believe a conversation needs to be had. I’m hoping we can resolve that before the end of today,” Cummins added. “He [Starc] is one of the best bowlers in the world under these circumstances. We shall see. The wicket appears, as I indicated, as though it might turn slightly. The approach last week with two pacers seemed to work fairly well, but I believe that variation in the attack is beneficial, whether it comes from Starcy, another spinner, or Scotty.
“I believe that in a perfect world, your all-rounder would be able to bat in the top six. That’s a luxury Cam Green has provided for us. We entered with four bowlers in my first 20 or so Test matches, I believe. Although exhausting, you can still make it work. Once more, spin bowlers might likely complete 25 overs rather than 20 in a single day. In other words, having hitters who can chip in or a true all-rounder like Cam Green is great, but if not, I believe you can get by with four bowlers.
Ashton Agar and Matthew Kuhnemann will have to be chosen if Australia decides to play that third spinner. Whereas Kuhnemann was brought in after the Nagpur loss, the former was a member of the initial team that arrived in Bangalore. No pecking order existed, according to Cummins. He stated, “We’re open to both ideas. “We have every confidence that both will perform admirably on stage. They both looked fantastic after long training the past couple of days. We’d be content with either of the two if we needed a third spinning variety.
In the meantime, Cummins supported David Warner in his quest to escape his “India rut,” although he did not officially announce that the left-hander would start the second Test. Warner has played in nine Test matches in India, averaging a pitiful 22.16. In Nagpur, he was cleaned up by Mohammed Shami in the first innings and then restrained and pinned by R. Ashwin in the second.
“I don’t select people. Cummins stated, “I don’t believe they’ve had a meeting, but I’m sure Davey will be there. “You saw [last] year at the Boxing Day Test that he’s pretty difficult to bowl to when he puts pressure back on the opposition. He is aware that you don’t receive as many excellent balls. I’m certain that was part of his strategy. He’s been doing extremely well at the plate here. He impressed me even before the event started. Although spin bowling in the middle gets a lot of attention, the hardest moment to bat is sometimes when the new ball is used.
Another player competing for a slot in the Australian middle order is Travis Head. The fourth-ranked Test batsman was benched for the first game of the series but might give middle-order counterattacking talents and a fifth bowling option if Green is not declared fit to play. Head had apparently accepted the omission in stride and was eager to return, according to Cummins.
Trav has been fantastic, Cummins remarked. “[He] has been working incredibly hard on his game out back. He has been excellent in his interactions with the team as always. Fun is never in short supply wherever Heady is. He cannot be doing much more because he is unquestionably participating in the conversations for this Test, just like he did for the first Test. He has been excellent.
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