Prithvi Shaw’s backlift technique is responsible for his struggles in the Test series in Australia according to legendary former Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar.
Prithvi Shaw was dropped for the ongoing second Test in Melbourne after the 21-year-old managed scores of zero and four in Adelaide where India registered their lowest Test innings total (36) and were thrashed inside three days.
Prithvi Shaw Suffering From Backlift Problems: Sachin Tendulkar
Prithvi Shaw had a poor IPL 2020 and poor outings in warm-up games so it was a surprise for many and a questionable decision to see him included in XI for the first Test at Adelaide ahead of Shubman Gill and KL Rahul.
“I feel it’s the backlift,” Tendulkar said on his YouTube channel of his fellow Mumbai player.
“I feel his hands are moving away from his body, and then coming in. So, it’s a scoop, rather than a pendulum or a cradle, which goes in a straight line.”
He scored 40 and 3 in 2nd practice game whereas he failed in 1st practice game as well by registering scores of 0 and 19. He had a poor IPL 2020 outing too. Shaw amassed 228 runs in 13 games averaging a pathetic 17.53.
Prithvi Shaw Should Have Had Straighter Backlift Since His Timing Isn’t Right: Sachin Tendulkar
The curved arc of the bat makes the opener particularly vulnerable to faster deliveries, said Sachin Tendulkar, who retired in 2013 as international cricket’s most prolific batsman amassing maximum runs in both ODIs and Tests.
“When you’re scooping, you don’t get the timing right and you edge the ball either on the outer side or the inside. When you’re batting well your timing is going to be right, but when you’re not the straighter backlift helps.”
Prithvi Shaw, who scored a century on his Test debut against West Indies two years ago, may not get the chance to make amends for his Adelaide show in the remainder of the series as he may not be picked for remaining Tests.
Shubman Gill, replacing him, scored a fluent 45 on his Test debut in Melbourne, while opener Rohit Sharma, currently recovering from a hamstring injury, is expected to be fit for the third match in Sydney from January 7.