India’s attack cannot be underestimated despite ‘big loss’ of Mohammed Shami: Australia coach Andrew McDonald

Australia head coach Andrew McDonald says his team will remain wary of India’s pace attack for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy despite the absence of senior pacer Mohammed Shami , who wasn’t included in the squad after failing to regain fitness in time for the tour.

Shami, who had played a key role in India’s historic 2-1 triumph in India’s 2018 tour Down Under, has not played competitive cricket since the ICC World Cup final against Australia in Ahmedabad last year. His last Test appearance was also against the Aussies – in the World Test Championship final at The Oval.

The 34-year-old had undergone an ankle surgery in February and extensive rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru in recent months. A swelling in the knees, however, complicated his return to fitness and captain Rohit Sharma had recently made it clear that India would not be bringing along a “undercooked” Shami for the marquee series that gets underway in Perth on 22 November.

More from First Cricket News

India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Match LIVE Updates: Amid boycott call, Men In Blue get ready to face arch-rivals in Dubai BCCI defends decision to play vs Pakistan in Asia Cup months after Pahalgam attack: 'If we boycott...'

“Mohammed Shami is a big loss,” McDonald was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo on ABC’s Offsiders.

“The way our batters speak about his relentless nature, his line and lengths, the way he goes about his business, a real good complimenting skill set to Bumrah so think that one-two combo they’ll lack a little bit, and they’ll miss that.”

India, who have won each of their last two Test assignments in Australia, have included Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna and uncapped Delhi pacer Harshit Rana in pace attack in which Mohammed Siraj becomes vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah’s default new-ball partner in Shami’s absence.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

'Won't require surgery...': Real reason behind Jasprit Bumrah's absence from 5th Test revealed in new report

PCB bans players from WCL over India-Pakistan match controversy

India have also included seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who recently made his international debut during the T20I series against Bangladesh.

‘We saw what happened last time’: McDonald

Shami had been ruled out of the remainder of the 2020-21 Test series after suffering a wrist injury in the series opener in Adelaide. Bumrah would later miss the final Test of the series in Brisbane due to an abdominal strain at a time when the series was level at 1-1.

The series, however, witnessed pacers Siraj as well as Navdeep Saini and T Natarajan made their Test debuts and star in India’s epic come-from-behind series victory under Ajinkya Rahane’s leadership.

“But needless to say we saw what happened last time, they had reserves that came in and did the job as well so they cannot be underestimated at all,” he added.

As for the home team, teenager Sam Konstas has made himself a solid contender for Usman Khawaja’s opening partner after his twin centuries for New South Wales in the ongoing Sheffield Shield – Australia’s premier First-Class competition.

Read | Australia face setback ahead of India Test series as Cameron Green is ruled out

“I think we’re picking the best team for here and now, and if that does encompass a younger player, then we’ll head down that direction,” he said.

McDonald added that Konstas will make his Test debut in the upcoming series if the selectors believe he is the best option for the opener’s slot after Steve Smith's return to his original No 4 position . This despite the 19-year-old having played just six First-Class matches since making his debut in the format in November last year.

“I’ve heard people commentating ‘do you protect the player?’ If they’re ready, they’re ready in our mind, and if Sam’s capable and we feel as though is capable to fill that spot I don’t think that the opponent should come into the equation,” McDonald added.