As the much-anticipated Test series started between India and Australia, the visitors were yanked back to the backseat in the very first over of the day. Even before the Test started, there were intensifying questions about the selection of Prithvi Shaw who was chosen over an in-form Shubman Gill. Unfortunately, to accentuate the frowns, Shaw was cleaned up by Mitchell Starc in the very second ball of the day.
As Shaw was picked ahead of an in-form Gill, a lot of eyes were on him, expecting the fact that he can put behind the woeful display in the practice matches and take his shot at redemption. Much to everyone’s dismay, he failed to read Starc’s in-swinging delivery and his timbre went for a walk.
After winning the toss, India opted to bat first and in the very first over, Shaw took the strike against the pace spearhead, Mitchell Starc. Trying to negotiate with some early movement, Shaw defended the first ball on the front foot as the speedometer recorded 144 clicks. In the following delivery, Starc stormed from round the wicket and angled the delivery away from Shaw who wanted to defend it but failed to read the swing on the cherry.
As he stepped on his front-foot, the ball moved slightly inside and it barreled onto the stumps to teach the young and expressive stroke-player that Australia is nothing similar to your playground in the backyard.
Starc was absolutely exhilarated to see Shaw walking back to the pavilion as he knew that this youngster houses the potential to carve some picture-perfect strokes that can very well spell the doom for the hosts. In fact, India also went on to lose their second wicket in the form of Mayank Agarwal who failed to pick up Cummins’ speed and the ball rocketed into the timbre.
“If he does have a chink in his armour it’s the ball which does come back into him…
“Quite often leaves a big gap between bat and pad and that’s where the Aussies will target.” @RickyPonting at his peerless best for the Prithvi Shaw wicket #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/4nh67zBcpU
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 17, 2020
