Umesh, Shami added to bolster India pace attack
NEW DELHI :Pace bowlers Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami are back for the first three Onedayers against Australia after being rested for last week’s 5-0 win in Sri Lanka. However, the Indian selectors continued to keep out spinners Ra vic hand ran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja as they announced a 16-player squad on Sunday for the initial games of the series starting in Chennai on September 17.
Only rookie pacer Shardul Thakur has been left out of the squad that won 5-0 in Sri Lanka. Then on-inclusion of Ash win and Jadeja raises the question whether the Indian team management wants to look beyond the duo as it builds up for 2019 World Cup.
Chief selector, MSK Prasad, said in a BCCI statement: “The team for the three ODIs against Australia has been selected in line with the rotation policy of the Board and accordingly R Ash- win and Ravindra Jadeja have been rested.
“The team’ s performance during the Sr iL an kat our was outstanding and players like Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal, who performed very well, are being given an extended run. This will supplement our approach to build strong reserve strength as we prepare for forthcoming tours.”
Jadeja, impressive in the first two Sri Lanka Tests, was suspended for the final game.
He didn’t take a wicket in his last three ODIs, the Champions Trophy final loss against Pakistan followed by the last two OD Is in the West Indies. Ash win played only three Champions Trophy games, taking one wicket. He played two games in the West Indies, and took three wickets in the last game. Ashwin is playing in the English County.