India’s alarming headaches after a catastrophic first Test loss just became more painful as the tourists copped a fresh bout of terrible news.
The aftermath of India’s disastrous loss in the first Test in Adelaide just got a whole lot worse after fast bowler Mohammed Shami was reportedly ruled out of the rest of the tour with a broken arm.
Shami was forced to retire hurt in India’s second innings — which ended with the country’s lowest ever Test total of 36 — when he was struck on the arm by a searing Pat Cummins bouncer.
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The paceman received treatment on the ground after copping the nasty blow and although he tried to bat on after having his right arm — his bowling arm — taped up, he couldn’t grip the handle properly and trudged off the field to end India’s humiliating innings on an even more depressing note.
Cricinfo reports the short ball fractured Shami’s arm and he will miss the next three Tests.
It’s another big blow for the tourists, who are also waving goodbye to captain Virat Kohli, who is flying home for the birth of his first child and will miss the rest of the tour.
India’s bowlers were outstanding in Adelaide, knocking Australia over for just 191 in the first innings and although Shami didn’t pick up a wicket, he was incredibly accurate and built pressure for him teammates to reap the rewards at the other end.
Uncapped seamers Navdeep Saini and Mohammed Siraj loom as possible replacements for Shami in the Boxing Day Test, while Shardul Thakur and Kartik Tyagi are also in the running.
Meanwhile, Cricket Australia said on Sunday it was pressing ahead with plans to hold the third Test in Sydney despite a growing coronavirus outbreak in the city.
A COVID-19 cluster had risen to 68 cases since it emerged on Thursday, with parts of Sydney’s northern beaches in a snap lockdown and restrictions placed on travel to other states.
The Test is due be held from January 7 and CA interim chief Nick Hockley said they were watching the situation closely, with contingency plans in place.
“We have made no changes to our schedule and our preference remains to play the match at the Sydney Cricket Ground,” he said in a statement as speculation mounted that it would be moved.
“CA has prepared for the possibility of COVID-19 hotspots and state border closures over the course of the summer.
“The protocols that we have put in place have been effective in ensuring the safety and success of the men’s and women’s domestic and international programs to date.
“We will continue to work closely with all relevant parties to make the right decisions in the appropriate timeframes.”
If the Sydney clash goes ahead, a problem could be getting the players to Brisbane for the final Test a week later after Queensland announced it was effectively closing its border to Sydneysiders.
The second Test starts in Melbourne on Boxing Day and back-to-back Tests there could be an option.
Otherwise, they could return to Adelaide, where Australia won the opening Test by eight wickets on Saturday, or host two in a row in Brisbane.
With AFP
