Sachin Tendulkar has tagged Prithvi Shaw as a talented player but believes he still has to overcome some technical flaws in his batting. Prithvi Shaw was immensely criticised for the way he got out early in both knocks of the pink-ball Test at Adelaide. Shaw was clean bowled in both the innings which suggested that he is currently woefully out of nick.
Tendulkar who has always rated Shaw highly thinks that he is playing far away from his body against the new ball. Shaw who had scores of 4 and 0 in the first Test might even be dropped from the side for the MCG Test match. The ‘little master’ thinks that Shaw needs to keep his hands closer to his body which will allow him to defend when the bowlers bowl inswingers
Prithvi Shaw’s hands are away from his body- Sachin Tendulkar
He continued and also pointed out that Shaw needs to also work on his backlift which is almost coming like a pendulum. Tendulkar added that because of that Shaw is always late on the ball and his front foot is not planted when he looks to play solid defence. Tendulkar summed it up by stating that Shaw needs to prepare early which will allow him to judge the length early and play accordingly.
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“Prithvi is a talented player but at this point of time I feel his hands are moving away from his body. So, whenever the ball comes back sharply off the seam there is a possibility that, considering how he has got out, bowlers would continue to hope that they have some chance there. His hands need to be closer to his body. His back lift is going from almost fourth slip to gully before coming down, it’s making a full arc, instead of moving back and forth like a pendulum”, Tendulkar told Times Of India.
“If the bat comes to a fraction late then the ball will find the gap between the bat and pad. I also noticed, he was caught on the move and was a fraction late on the ball. I’d say if he starts preparing a slightly early to play the ball that can also help. Both innings his front foot hadn’t landed when the ball passed him and that can happen to batters when they have too many things going on in their heads or they are expecting a short delivery”, Tendulkar further said.
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Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see whether team India backs Shaw for the second Test or tries a new opening combination. Rumours suggest that KL Rahul might be trusted to open alongside Mayank Agarwal in the boxing day Test. The second Test match between Australia and India will be played at Melbourne starting from December 26.