August 9, 2024

India Hope Mohammed Shami Will Be Ready for Tests Against Bangladesh

India fast bowler Mohammed Shami has made significant progress in his recovery from an ankle injury that has kept him out of action since the ODI World Cup last November. The injury required surgery, and Shami has steadily returned to full fitness. He is in the final stages of rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru and has resumed pain-free bowling.

The selectors closely monitor Shami’s recovery, hoping he will be ready for India’s home season, starting with a Test series against Bangladesh in September. They are considering having him play in at least one Duleep Trophy match, beginning September 5 in Anantapur, to assess his fitness. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar had earlier confirmed that Shami had started bowling again, with a target of being fit for the first Test against Bangladesh on September 19 in Chennai.

Key Updates on Mohammed Shami’s Fitness and Upcoming Fixtures

“We more or less know who the guys are, there are some injuries at the moment and hope they will be back up,” Agarkar had said. “Shami has started to bowl which is a good sign. September 19 is the first Test and that was always the goal. I don’t know if that is his timeline for recovery, will have to ask the guys at the NCA about that.

“There are so many Tests coming. We will need some depth. Bumrah, Shami, and Siraj have been around for a while, these are the obvious ones. But there will be some conversation around it. Got a lot of first-class cricket coming up so we can build guys up like that.”

Late last month in Kolkata, Mohammed Shami expressed his desire to play for Bengal before rejoining the national team. He also participated informally in motivational and fitness sessions with the state players.

Even if Shami misses some or all of India’s upcoming home Tests—two against Bangladesh and three against New Zealand—he has enough time to regain his bowling rhythm before the tour of Australia. The team will leave for Australia after the third Test against New Zealand ends on November 5. Additionally, the Ranji Trophy begins in October. India’s A team will play two first-class games in Australia from October 31, offering Shami more opportunities to build his fitness.

Shami’s ankle injury, which became evident shortly after the 2023 ODI World Cup, was initially considered minor. He was included in India’s Test squad for the two-match series in South Africa in December-January, pending his fitness. However, he was later withdrawn from the tour. He returned to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) to recover for the home Tests against England in February-March. Still, he was advised to undergo surgery after persistent swelling in his right ankle. This forced him to miss the series and the 2024 IPL season with Gujarat Titans.

Shami was a standout performer in India’s ODI World Cup campaign, taking 24 wickets in just seven matches at an impressive average of 10.70 and a strike rate of 12.20, pivotal in India’s journey to the final.

Hancock and Parsons Star as Australia A Make it 2-0

Tahlia Wilson and Tahlia McGrath led Australia A to a comfortable win over India A, securing an eight-wicket victory and clinching the T20 series. Australia A chased down 130 quickly, thanks to Wilson’s unbeaten 53 and McGrath’s 47*, finishing the match with ten balls to spare.

Australia A’s win highlighted their depth, with debutants Grace Parsons and Nicola Hancock playing pivotal roles. Parsons, a leg spinner, and Hancock, a fast bowler, replaced Maitlan Brown and Tayla Vlaeminck in the lineup. Together, they took 7 for 44 in their combined eight overs. Parsons, who made her T20 debut after injury setbacks, was particularly impressive, taking 4 for 30, including the crucial wicket of Priya Punia, who had top-scored for India A with 29 off 26 balls. Parsons finished her spell by taking two more wickets in three balls, underscoring her impact on the game.

“I’ve never actually played a T20 before, apart from at [my] club so today was very nerve wracking,” Parsons said. “But my plans don’t change too much.

“It was pretty special. I’m always nervous at the start, especially when I haven’t played cricket for quite a few months, but it was nice to get the first game out of the way and take a few wickets. It was a pretty special thing to get the call up into the Aus A team and then to be playing today, it’s pretty awesome.”

Nicola Hancock, a late addition to the squad after Courtney Sippel was sidelined due to injury, made an immediate impact by taking the first wicket. She dismissed Shweta Sehrawat with a top edge, brilliantly caught by Nicole Faltum. She finished her three overs with just 14 runs conceded.

India A faced an uphill battle, struggling to gain momentum and losing wickets at regular intervals. A particularly challenging phase saw them lose 3 for 10 between the 11th and 13th overs. Despite their efforts, Australia A had no trouble in their chase, even after losing Katie Mack early. Tahlia Wilson continued her strong early-season form, and captain Tahlia McGrath, who had been out for a golden duck in the first match, accelerated the chase with a series of boundaries in an unbroken 69-run partnership, ultimately securing the win.