Prithvi Shaw must tighten up his technique for tougher challenges ahead, say former cricketers

Former cricketers feel debutant Prithvi Shaw must tighten up his technique for upcoming challenges, especially when India play overseas. Shaw, however, announced himself on the international platform in style, scoring a century in his very first Test appearance. The 18-year old opened the batting for Team India against the Windies in the first Test at Rajkot. He got to his maiden hundred at a strike-rate over 100 and was eventually dismissed for 134.

Many drew comparisons to former greats such as Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara, and even former Windies all-rounder Carl Hooper was reminded of old the Caribbean flair when Shaw punched the ball off the back foot. However, he also feels Shaw’s aggressive style, coupled with his current technique, makes the 18-year-old vulnerable for sterner tests overseas, especially when India travel to Australia next month.

“He seems to be a great talent but tends to play away from the body. Clearly, he likes to be on the back foot and play square off the wicket. It worked here (in Rajkot) but with so much gap between the bat and body, he could face issues in England and Australia,” Hooper was quoted as saying to the Indian Express.

The unconventional technique could also work for Shaw

Meanwhile, the former India opener Aakash Chopra also echoed Hooper’s views but feels that an unconventional approach can indeed work for him, just the way it did for Virender Sehwag.

“What we have just seen is perhaps a trailer of the things to come. It looks very promising. You cannot grudge about the opposition and pitch was flat. But he will be tested (overseas) and I am sure he is aware of it. We will get to know whether he can weather the storm and what all he needs to do,” Chopra said.

“Currently, there are a couple of things, I am pretty sure he is working on that. One was his trigger movement which is already looking different to we saw in the IPL. I am not too worried. He has got a great start,” he added.

“People will have faith and he will get a slightly extended run. God forbid even if Australia does not end up being the best of tours for him, you have to bear in mind that a lot of players went there the first time and did not really set the world on fire,” the former Indian cricketer further said in support of the youngster.

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