Shastri demands players ‘show grit, look ugly, dirty’
soon and England coach Trevor Bayliss questioned on this.
Shastri said: “We focus on cricket. He is a terrific cricketer, we would like to play against top cricketers. If he has been cleared by the courts, what is the reason for him not to play? If I was in England’s position I would have wanted him to play.”
He admitted picking Chinaman bowler, Kuldeep Yadav, ahead of a third paceman at Lord’s was a mistake. Neither Kuldeep or R Ashwin took a wicket, and England leg-spinner Adil Rashid did not bowl.
“In hindsight, it was an error. We should have gone, seeing the conditions, with an extra seamer. It might have helped. Then again, you didn’t know how much it would rain, whether a match could go into the final day where just in case a spinner is needed and the ball starts to turn, would we have needed him.”
BAYLISS WARNS HOSTS
Virat Kohli’s back trouble flared up during the Lord’s Test but England coach Trevor Bayliss warned the hosts on Thursday that he could be even more dangerous in the Trent Bridge game starting on Saturday.
“It could mean he’s more of a dangerous player,” Bayliss said. “Through history there are a lot of players who have played with an injury and scored runs and taken wickets. I don’t know if that focuses the mind more ... but I have just seen him take some slip catches without any problems, so I’m sure he’ll be playing.”