India not ruling out Gill playing in series opener

India will give Shubman Gill every chance to prove his fitness to start the opening Test against Australia at Perth Stadium with the batsman showing improvement after fracturing his left thumb, bowling coach Morne Morkel said on Wednesday.
Gill, 25, sustained the injury while fielding at slip last week as India were gearing up for the match, which starts tomorrow, with squad sessions instead of a tour game against a local side.
“Shubman is improving every day. Obviously he picked up a nasty blow in that intra-squad warm-up game. I think with him it’s going to be a day-to-day process,” Morkel told reporters.
“Fingers crossed for that improvement. We’ll wait to take a call on him up until the morning of the test match.”
With skipper Rohit Sharma set to miss the match following the birth of his second child, Gill’s absence could heap more pressure on India’s less experienced batsmen on fiery Australian pitches but Morkel backed them to rise to the occasion.
“It’s going to be great learning for these young guys, who can front up against a quality test bowling attack. Australia aren’t going to bowl you many bad balls,” Morkel said.
“But in saying that there’s good leadership within the group that can help and settle the nerves with that. As a group, we’re all excited for the challenge.”
Seamer Mohammed Shami is not part of the squad for the five-match series having only returned to action this month after suffering an ankle injury at last year’s 50-overs World Cup and a knee issue during his recovery. The 34-year-old claimed seven wickets in a domestic match last week but will not be rushed back to national duty.
“We’re definitely keeping a close eye on Shami. He’s a world class bowler,” Morkel said.
“We need to understand he’s been out of the game for almost a year. We have to respect him and his body. It’s a massive win that he’s back playing and picking up wickets.”
Meanwhile Australia’s seasoned seamer, Josh Hazelwood, commended Indian batting powerhouse Virat Kohli for his impressive past performances in Australia. Acknowledging Kohli as a pivotal wicket, Hazelwood emphasised focusing on all skilful Indian players who could potentially turn the game.
Hazlewood is also relieved India is without the services of Cheteshwar Pujara for the series.
Pujara was the highest run-getter in the India vs Australia Test series Down Under in 2018-19 with 521 runs in four Tests as India won their first-ever Test series in Australia. He also scored 271 in the 2020-21 series Down Under, helping India to clinch their second consecutive BGT in Australia.
“I am happy that Cheteshwar Pujara is not here. He is obviously someone who bats time and spends a lot of time at the crease and makes you earn his wicket every time. Has done really well in Australia on previous tours. I mean there are always first-class young players coming into the team. There is so much pressure to perform in the Indian team. With so many guys nipping at the hills all the time, so overall the playing XI is a mix of unbelievable players. So it does not really matter, they are all big players,” Hazlewood said at the press conference on Wednesday.
Warner backs McSweeney
to shine in India series
Former Australia opener David Warner has backed Nathan McSweeney to score the most runs in the test series against India despite the uncapped batsman’s lack of experience as an opener.
South Australia captain McSweeney will march out to the middle with Usman Khawaja in the first Test, having claimed the opening spot vacated by Steve Smith, who is returning to his favoured number four slot.
McSweeney had not opened the batting in a first class match until playing India A this month in Melbourne where he scored 14 and 25.
Warner said McSweeney would be able to adapt to the opening role and looked a good fit for Khawaja, who also started his career lower down the order.
“I think he’s got the technique, he’s got the patience to partner up with Uzzy (Khawaja) to allow himself to score big,” Warner, who retired from tests after the Pakistan series in the last home summer, told reporters in Melbourne.
“I’ve pencilled him in to be the highest run scorer this year, so I’m looking forward to that.
“I think they’ve both got the same sort of patience, which is going to be good for them and hold the middle order in good stead.”
At 25, McSweeney will be an outlier in a team of thirty-somethings and pundits worry about the impact a wave of retirements will have on the side in the coming years. Warner noted Australia needed to think about succession planning, particularly with players like 37-year-old Khawaja approaching the end of their careers.
However, he also called for selectors to be patient with the new generation and give McSweeney time to prove himself at the highest level.
“It’s not just these five test matches, it’s the signs that you see (McSweeney) as a talented batsman for the future,” he said.
“You’ve got to give guys a crack.
“I know there are other guys that have been there – Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft – but it’d be exciting just to see him score some runs first to establish himself. But if he doesn’t, just give him some time, give him maybe two summers.”