Reports: Mohammed Shami to return to playing XI for 4th Test

Star Indian seamer Mohammed Shami will be reportedly included in the playing XI for the final Test of the four-match series against Australia starting on March 9. The speedster was rested for the third Test played in Indore for workload management and was replaced by Umesh Yadav.

The team management, in consultation with the medical staff, has decided to give enough rest to the bowlers who are part of the ODI World Cup plans and will also feature in the IPL regularly.

Hence Shami, who is also included in the squad for the ODI series against Australia, was rested for the third Test. Yadav, who replaced Shami in the third Test, bowled exceptionally in the first innings and ended up picking 3/12 in five overs.

On the other hand, Mohammed Siraj, who has only bowled 24 overs in the series so far, is likely to be rested for the fourth Test scheduled to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Siraj will most likely be featuring in all three ODIs against Australia starting on March 17, hence he will be rested ahead of the series.

Shami has been the most successful seamer in the series so far picking up 7 wickets in two matches at an average of 14.42. India will require him on the dry wicket at Ahmedabad which might be helpful for reverse swing. They are leading the series 2-1 currently and need to win the last Test to confirm their spot in the final of the World Test Championship scheduled to be played at The Oval, London from June 7.

Curators are preparing a normal track for the fourth Test

The pitch for the third Test at the Holkar Stadium, Indore has been rated “poor” by the ICC Match referee Chris Broad, while the surface at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha, which was the venue for the first Test, has also been rated as "average". Hence, the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) will look to prepare a better track on offer for the fourth Test which has a good balance between bat and ball.

"We haven't received any instructions from the Indian team management and our local curators are preparing a normal track as we have always done through the season," a state association member was quoted as saying by The Hindu.

"In fact, last Ranji game over here in January, Railways scored 500 plus (508) batting first and Gujarat, although had innings defeat, scored 200 plus in both innings. It won't be too different this time," he added.

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