India vs Australia: “He is invariably late on the ball” – Aakash Chopra speaks about Prithvi Shaw’s ‘deficiencies’


India vs Australia: “He is invariably late on the ball” – Aakash Chopra speaks about Prithvi Shaw’s ‘deficiencies’
Ricky Ponting
Prithvi Shaw

Prithvi Shaw has had a horrific time in Australia so far. In the two tour games that he played, the young opener couldn’t get a single good knock and in the all-important first Test, the 21-year-old got out bowled for 0 and 4 in his two innings. To add to his misery, he dropped a simple catch in the field as well.

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There have been various comments made on Shaw’s technique and the need to address the same, but the addressal doesn’t seem to arrive. With Shaw’s role in the Test match all but over now, it will be interesting to see if the Indian management will persist with him for the next Test. With the likes of Shubman Gill and KL Rahul waiting in the wings, it does seem like Shaw’s dropping from the playing XI is imminent.

‘The deficiency in Shaw’s technique came to the fore’

Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra

Former Indian batsman Aakash Chopra spoke to ESPNCricinfo today about the flaws in Shaw’s game. “Once again, the deficiency in Shaw’s technique came to the fore. The bat between bat and pad was there. The front foot was not planted. He is invariably late on the ball while playing his shots. Now, he’s going so deep in the crease, for his short stature, his foot is barely moving.

He is always vulnerable against the new ball. His confidence is rock bottom as well. Everything is stacked against him. Let’s see how he and the team responds to this. It will be interesting to see if India will give him two more innings or drop him immediately,” the former opener said.

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Talking about the comparisons which have been made of Prithvi Shaw’s game to former Indian opener Virender Sehwag, Chopra said, “Sehwag’s bat came very straight. He didn’t have exaggerated foot movement. But he would keep his bat and pad close and used to leave deliveries outside-off. He never left that big a gap as Prithvi Shaw. There was a flip-side to Sehwag’s technique as well. In Indian subcontinent conditions, it was perfect but no so much outside. If you look at his stats, you can see that his subcontinent numbers are miles ahead of his overseas ones.”

India have a lead of 62 runs with 9 wickets in hand ahead of Day 3 and will look to build on the same to set Australia a big target.

Also Read: India vs Australia: Bowlers help India gain crucial lead on Day 2