Akash and Bumrah’s Resilience Can Restore Confidence in India’s Batting Lineup: Vettori
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Brisbane, Dec 17 (NationPress) In a surprising development, Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep collaborated for an unbroken 39-run partnership, effectively blocking Australia's aspirations to enforce a follow-on on Day 4 of the Third Test at The Gabba.
Despite India’s top order struggling once again, with the exception of KL Rahul who delivered a commendable 84-run performance in Australian conditions, Australia’s assistant coach Daniel Vettori believes that the partnership between Bumrah and Akash could re-instill confidence in India’s top order for the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
“We anticipate a lot from our batters. We realize that any batsman can rise to the occasion on any given day. We don’t expect everyone to meet their averages. Although the averages might not seem promising, Bumrah has demonstrated his capability. He has shown he can form partnerships, can both attack and defend. I believe Akash is more than just a number 11, so the team recognizes that every wicket is crucial, hence there was no reason to hold back,” Vettori stated at the post-day press conference.
Akash Deep, making his debut in foreign conditions, came in to bat with the score at 213/9 while the visitors needed 33 runs to avoid a follow-on that could have jeopardized their chances of winning.
Concerns mounted for the home team as Australia faced a significant injury setback with seasoned seamer Josh Hazlewood likely to be sidelined for the remainder of the series against India after scans revealed a strained right calf. Hazlewood sustained the injury during warm-ups on Tuesday morning. He bowled one over in the first session before departing the field with calf discomfort on Day 4.
The 33-year-old missed the second Test at Adelaide Oval due to a side strain. In Hazlewood's probable absence, Scott Boland, who substituted for him in the second Test, is expected to be included in the squad for the upcoming matches, as confirmed by Vettori.
“He (Josh) is feeling quite down. He noticed the injury during warm-ups and gave it his best effort, but it’s truly unfortunate for him. He had worked hard to return after a previous injury, and now to face another setback with a calf issue is incredibly tough,” Vettori remarked.
“I think Boland has proven himself. His performance in Adelaide and his consistent role as a backup seamer, especially in Australia, has been remarkable. Thus, it makes sense for him to step up,” Vettori concluded.
