Amid uncertainty over veteran India pacer Mohammed Shami’s availability for the upcoming five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series in Australia, former India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey has backed the talented Akash Deep to be part of the visitors’ pace attack as well. Mhambrey also added that Akash Deep is the kind of pace bowler India needs Down Under.

Speaking to The Times of India, Paras Mhambrey said: “Akash has done a lot of bowling in domestic cricket. He understands what needs to be done. He also relies a lot on seam movement. You need that kind of bowler in Australia who can nip it around off the seam. We are lucky to have someone like Bumrah who loves to play Test cricket. But Bumrah and Shami need to be rested in the middle of a long series. That’s when the strategic selection comes into play.”

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However, India speedster Akash Deep made headlines in his Test debut against England in Ranchi in February, picking up three wickets in the first innings. He claimed two wickets in the first innings against Bangladesh in Chennai and picked two of the three wickets to fall on Day 1 of the Kanpur Test.

“With Ashwin in the team and hopefully Kuldeep Yadav, a left-armer could be a strategic pick to create rough outside the off-stump. I feel Arshdeep maybe needs a bit more time to grow with the red ball but Dayal looks as someone who could hit the deck. First things first, you need bowlers who can hit the deck hard and derive seam movement in Australia. The Kookaburra balls are best to bowl within the first 30 overs. After that the conditions become very flat,” Paras Mhambrey concluded.