Prithvi Shaw Will Struggle In International Cricket: Shane Warne

Former Australia leg-spinner, Shane Warner feels that unless Prithvi Shaw doesn’t work on his technique and improve it, he will struggle at the highest level. Warne’s criticism of the young Indian opener came after Shaw was dismissed for another cheap score in the second innings of the Adelaide Test.

After taking a vital lead of 54 runs in the first innings, India would have wished for the openers to consolidate on it. However, Prithvi Shaw was castled by Pat Cummins for a score of four by the end of Day 2. In the first innings, the opener inside-edged a Mitchell Starc delivery that was angling away from him on to the stumps for a duck.

Warne also opined that Aussie opener, Joe Burns is out of form after the right-hander could manage only 8 runs in the first innnigs and was dismissed lbw off the bowling of Jaspirt Bumrah. However, the31-year-old has emphatically responded to his critics by notching a good looking fifty in the second innings while chasing the target of 90.

Hence, making it almost impossible for Australia to drop him if David Warner – who would walk straight into the side – and Will Pucovski are fit for the second Test.

“No surprise that Burns struggled yesterday as he looks horribly out of form – fingers crossed he can get some in his second dig. Shaw will struggle at this level with that technique,” tweeted Shane Warne.

Prithvi Shaw’s struggles with his flawed technique

Shaw’s struggles have been conspicuous in the recent past. The 21-year-old had a disastrous IPL campaign for the Delhi Capitals. He was dismissed 8 times for single-digit scores in 13 IPL innings, before eventually being dropped ahead of the final against Mumbai Indians. He also recorded a couple of single-figure scores in the practice games against Australia A before being bowled for 0 and 4 in Adelaide.

Not only the low scores but the fact that despite widely known flaws in his technique, Shaw hasn’t improved since the IPL. The right-hander has lacked feet movement, and his front foot seems to be planted on the ground. There has been a massive gap between the bat and the pad, and hence the pacers have fizzed past their deliveries onto the stumps plenty of times recently.

After India’s humiliating loss on the third day of the pink-ball Test, changes are bound to happen – apart from the forced change of Virat Kohli leaving – it would be interesting to see if the management stick with Shaw for another game or use alternatives like Shubman Gill or KL Rahul.

Other observations. No surprise that Burns struggled yesterday as he looks horribly out of form – fingers crossed he can get some in his second dig. Shaw will struggle at this level with that technique & a good debate with @mikehuss25 re keeping position in a team @FoxCricket !

— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) December 19, 2020

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