INFORMATION
Former Chief Selector Prasad said – Indian team of 26 players to be sent to Australia
According to former chief selector MSK Prasad, it would be good to send at least 26 member strong team to Australia where India and A teams can be kept together for a month.
Pakistan followed up with a team of 29 players (including white ball experts) to follow the Kovid-19 protocol in England and the West Indies team has 26 players. Prasad, who was the head of the selection committee till February, told PTI, “The team management and senior players will have a chance to see the youth, who are ready to make a place in the team.”
He said, ‘In the process, you can also keep an eye on these players who could be potential players for different places in future.’ This team of 26 players will ensure that India can be divided into two groups and a practice match can be played during the time of separation.
Prasad said, “Because of Kovid we cannot trust net bowlers, then going with a big team would be an ideal situation as this would ensure the safety of all the players as they would be in a biologically safe environment.”
He said, “If a Kovid-19 is found positive, then players can be selected in this team as they must have spent mandatory segregation time.” Prasad believes that it will be good preparation for the main team as the first-choice batsmen will have many bowlers for bowling practice.
He said, ‘Even for our main bowlers, they will also have new batsmen to bowl. Like Shreyas Iyer is quite aggressive and can sometimes be ‘non-traditional’. So, he can bring a lot of diversity which the Australian batsmen probably have.
Some reserve fast bowlers will also be ideal as the main bowlers of the team like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav will not get tired in the absence of net bowlers.
Prasad said, “Also, if the IPL is before this series then it would be better to take a big team because we should be ready for ‘back-up’, if someone gets injured or there is a minor injury in the IPL itself.”