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Amid uncertainty over Mohammed Shami's availability for the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series in Australia, former India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey has backed Akash Deep to be part of the visitors' pace attack. Mhambrey, himself a former fast bowler, reckons that Akash Deep is the kind of pacer India needs Down Under during the series.
India will play five Tests in Australia as part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between November 2024 and January 2025. While Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj look set to be on the plane to Australia barring any fitness concerns, there is still no clarity on Shami, who underwent surgery on his right heel in February to repair his Achilles tendon.
Speaking to The Times of India, former India bowling coach Mhambrey recommended Akash Deep's name as one of the pacers for the grueling tour of Australia. Giving his reasons for the same, he said:
"Akash has done a lot of bowling in domestic cricket. He understands what needs to be done. He also relies a lot on seam movement. You need that kind of bowler in Australia who can nip it around off the seam."
The 52-year-old added that even if Shami is declared fit for the Australia tour, neither he nor Bumrah can play all five Tests. He stated that the senior duo will need to be rested at some point during the long series, which is why India will need the services of someone like Akash Deep. Mhambrey elaborated:
"We are lucky to have someone like Bumrah who loves to play Test cricket. But Bumrah and Shami need to be rested in the middle of a long series. That's when the strategic selection comes into play."
Akash Deep made an impressive Test debut against England in Ranchi in February, claiming three wickets in the first innings. He picked up two scalps in the first innings against Bangladesh in Chennai and claimed two of the three wickets to fall on Day 1 of the Kanpur Test.
"Dayal looks as someone who could hit the deck" - Mhambrey on left-arm seamer for Australia tour
Apart from right-arm fast bowlers, India will also be keen on having at least one left-arm pacer on the plane to Australia. They have options in the likes of Yash Dayal, Khaleel Ahmed, and Arshdeep Singh.
Mhambrey told the Times of India that Dayal looks best suited to make the cut for now. The Mumbai legend explained:
"With Ashwin in the team and hopefully Kuldeep Yadav, a left-armer could be a strategic pick to create rough outside the off-stump. I feel Arshdeep maybe needs a bit more time to grow with the red ball but Dayal looks as someone who could hit the deck."
"First things first, you need bowlers who can hit the deck hard and derive seam movement in Australia. The Kookaburra balls are best to bowl within the first 30 overs. After that the conditions become very flat," Mhambrey added.
Dayal has the experience of 24 first-class matches in which he has claimed 76 wickets at an average of 28.89, with one five-wicket haul.
