Would like to see Siraj, Thakur as third and fourth pacers for England Test: Agarkar

With
Jasprit
Bumrah
and
Mohammed
Shami
a
certainty
in
the
playing
XI,
India
has
other
pace
options
in
Siraj,
Prasidh
Krishna,
Shardul
Thakur
and
Umesh
Yadav
to
choose
from.

“Siraj
had
a
really
good
series
last
year
when
India
played
those
four
Tests
(against
England)
and
he
is
one
of
most
improved
bowlers
around
at
the
moment.
So
I
don’t
see
any
reason
why
Siraj
would
miss
out,”
Agarkar
said
during
an
interaction,
organised
by
Sony
Sports,
the
official
broadcaster
of
the
rescheduled
test
match.

Agarkar
felt
that
Shardul’s
ability
with
the
bat
could
give
him
an
edge
in
earning
a
place
in
the
final
eleven.

“Shardul
offers
a
bit
more
with
the
bat
at
number
eight
and
if
there
is
likely
help
for
the
seamers,
then
he
becomes
even
more
effective.
There
is
some
swing
and
seam
on
offer,”
Agarkar
said.

“So,
I
would
think
that’s
the
way
they
go.
Otherwise,
the
tail
becomes
too
long,
if
at
eight,
you
look
at
someone
like
Umesh
(Yadav)
or
even
Prasidh
Krisna
is
part
of
the
squad.
But
I
think,
Shardul
will
probably
make
(the
cut)
if
they
go
with
four
seamers,”
added
the
44-year-old,
who
represented
India
in
26
Tests.

Agarkar
also
backed
Siraj
in
saying
that
while
the
latter
did
have
a
forgettable
performance
in
the
IPL,
that,
however,
would
not
affect
his
chances
of
being
a
part
of
the
Indian
side.

“I
don’t
think
Siraj
necessarily
bowled
badly
and
I
don’t
think
you
need
to
equate
IPL
to
test
cricket
in
England.
So,
you
just
see
his
form
in
test
cricket
in
the
last
12
months.
Even
when
India
played
New
Zealand
at
home,
he
(Siraj)
was
really
good.

“And
he
can
do
the
tough
work
for
you.
When
the
ball
is
little
bit
older
can
bowl
long
spells
and
bowl
quick.
I
would
be
very
surprised
if
he
(Siraj)
is
not
the
third
seamer,”
reasoned
Agarkar.

The
fifth
and
final
Test
is
from
last
year’s
incomplete
series
against
England
which
got
rescheduled
due
to
outbreak
of
COVID-19
in
the
Indian
camp.
Agarkar
also
praised
the
veteran
batter
Cheteshwar
Pujara
hit
four
centuries,
including
two
double
centuries
for
Sussex
in
Division
Two
County
Championships
to
make
a
comeback
in
the
Indian
team.

He
reckoned
that
Pujara’s
current
form
would
be
an
advantage
for
India
in
the
final
test.
Pujara,
who
was
left
out
of
India’s
home
Test
series
against
Sri
Lanka
earlier
this
year,
amassed
720
runs
in
just
5
matches
with
an
outstanding
average
of
120
for
Sussex.

“It
is
a
good
thing
for
the
Indian
team
that
he
(Pujara)
was
there
and
playing
in
those
conditions.
Also,
he
has
the
experience,
90-odd
tests.
No
doubt
it
has
come
at
the
right
time,
also
because
it
is
one-off
test
and
not
many
other
Indian
batters
are
playing
in
these
conditions,
so
certainly
it
(Pujara
played
county)
will
be
an
advantage,”
said
Agarkar.