Former England fast bowler Steve Harmison criticised India’s selection and approach in the first Test against New Zealand, and said he can’t understand how Ishant Sharma got another game of Test cricket.
Steve Harmison also added that the would bring in Mohammad Siraj for Ishant Sharma. Talking about India’s fast bowling performance, former England fast bowler said that both the Indian spinners gave below par performance in the match and all three spinners bowled well.
“For me both seamers were also below par in the first Test match, for the life of me I don’t understand how Ishant Sharma got another game of Test cricket after what he did in England, so for me I’d bring [Mohammed] Siraj in for him. The three spinners bowled well enough, so they’ll be the only changes I make,” Steve Harmison told talkSPORT.
Steve Harmison also spoke abut Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara’s poor form and said that they both should be dropped and Suryakumar Yadav should be considered for a role in the middle order.
“I think they both make way, there’s lots of questions about Rahane and Pujara, they both might make way. I think Suryakumar Yadav, he plays in Mumbai for Mumbai Indians.
“He was brought into the squad a replacement for KL Rahul, I think they both [Rahane and Pujara] looked as if they were done, they both walked off the field in that first innings as I they knew it may be the last time they walk off the field for India.
Steve Harmison also mentioned the fact that Pujara hasn’t scored a single hundred in the last 39 innings.
“Pujara especially, 39 innings without a hundred is a long time for a player to bat in the top six and still warrant a place in that great Indian side,” Steve Harmison said.
“There’s a lot of players missing at the moment and you might just see another debutant or player who hasn’t played a lot of international cricket. I’d leave both out as they’ve both been as bad as each other because you’re definitely going to bring Kohli back into the side.
“The question is then who do you bat at No.3? I think it’ll be harsh just to leave either of them out, I think it’s time for India to make a change of both of them,” Steve Harmison added.
