India A v Australia A: Varun Aaron Fit to Bolster Pace Attack
India A and Australia A will play their second four-day 'Test' match in Chennai starting Wednesday. For Varun Aaron, this will be much-needed practice ahead of the Test series in Sri Lanka in August.
Varun Aaron's best chance to impress Test captain Virat Kohli is looming. The injury-prone Aaron, who missed the first India A versus Australia A match in Chennai last week, is fit to start Wednesday's four-day 'Test' against Australia A and Kohli will be watching the pacer closely.
Kohli loves speed. By opting to play for India A, he will not only get some match practice ahead of the Sri Lanka tour, but will get a ring-side view of his leading pacemen - Aaron and Umesh Yadav. In the absence of Mohammed Shami, recovering from an injury, Yadav and Aaron are expected to shoulder India's pace attack in Lankan conditions quite similar to that of Chennai.
According to a report in the ESPNCricinfo, quoting India A's bowling coach and former Mumbai pacer Paras Mhambrey, Varun Aaron is fit to bowl at full steam after starting to train on Monday. The Jharkhand bowler was down with fever last week.
"I am sure Virat has certain plans, but for us (India A) out here in this game, I think you use them (Umesh and Aaron) as strike bowlers. They are the wicket-taking bowlers for us," Mhambrey said.
Aaron's speed is his X factor. Mhambrey said Aaron will be monitored closely as he needs to stay fit for the Lankan tour. "Obviously, we will monitor the way he bowls in this game and then assess what we really need to do," Mhambrey said. (Rahul Dravid Hails Kohli's Decision to Play for India A)
"These are your strike bowlers and you have to use them like that. For many years, I don't think we have had two quality bowlers who have bowled 140-150 kmph plus in pairs.
"Earlier, we had Sri (Javagal Srinath) who could touch 140 kmph and beyond. But now we have a crop of fast bowlers out here, two young fast bowlers, who are touching 140 and beyond that," Mhambrey said. (India in Sri Lanka: Rohit Sharma in A 'Tricky' Position Over Test Spot)
It will be a test of discipline for India's young pacers in Sri Lanka. But to tip the scales in India's favour, not only line and length will matter, but staying fit will be imperative. Both Aaron and Yadav have to be careful.