Prithvi Shaw to miss the first Test vs Australia: The Indian opening batsman sustained an ankle during the warm-up match.
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During the third day of the ongoing India’s lone warm-up match against Cricket Australia XI at Sydney, India opening batsman Prithvi Shaw sustained an ankle injury in the field which has ruled him out of the first Test to be played at Adelaide on December 6.
It all happened during Shaw’s attempt to catch Max Bryant on the deep mid-wicket boundary. He went over on his ankle as he tried to keep himself inside the boundary, injuring him in the process to the extent that he got up only after Indian physio rushed to the ground to assess him.
The 19-year old batsman was seen in significant pain when he was being carried to the dressing room. Shaw then underwent scans in the hospital which disclosed a ‘lateral ligament injury’.
“Shaw underwent scans this morning and the reports revealed a lateral ligament injury. Shaw will be unavailable for the First Test against Australia in Adelaide. He will undergo an intensive rehabilitation program to hasten the recovery,” a BCCI statement said.
Having scored a half-century yesterday against CA XI, Shaw was a certain contender to open the batting in Adelaide. In his absence, India are all but likely to send Lokesh Rahul and Murali Vijay to face the new ball in the first Test. While Rahul has been out-of-form lately, Vijay is yet to bat in Australia.
Only time will tell whether Shaw will be available for the second Test to be played from December 14 in Perth. In which isn’t really required in an 18-member squad, India might also just look for a replacement in Mayank Agarwal or perhaps Shikhar Dhawan.
“In whichever format he’s played he’s made a mark straightaway. Wherever he has played he has shown he can adapt to conditions and the stage as well. He plays with a lot of clarity and the impressive thing about him is he gets into good position. The fearlessness of youth probably helps him,” batting coach Sanjay Bangar was quoted as saying regarding Shaw yesterday.
Read some of the latest Twitter reactions on Shaw below:
