Ashwin, who announced his retirement following the conclusion of the third Test against Australia at the Gabba, Brisbane, said he had first contemplated retirement following his 100th Test (against England in Dharamsala) in the early part of last year.
“Marnus looked the most tentative out of all the batters in Perth. Yes, it was high quality bowling on a difficult wicket, but he needs to find a way to turn it around,” Ponting was quoted as saying by the ICC Review.
Speaking in the aftermath of Australia’s 295-run loss to India in Perth, McDonald ruled out the possibility of any big changes going into the second ICC World Test Championship contest in Adelaide.
Morkel said the team management have also got their eyes on seasoned pacer Mohammed Shami.
Shastri believes India must target a fast start to the series in Perth to keep their World Test Championship hopes alive.
“Their last two series wins out here they had Ravi Shastri who was fantastic,” Paine said.
He said that the visitors will find taking 20 wickets in a Test as the “biggest challenge” in the absence of Mohammed Shami.
Australia have suffered a major blow ahead of their crucial Test series against India, with news that star all-rounder Cameron Green will undergo surgery on his injured back and be sidelined for up to six months.
Smith has been a rock in Australia’s middle-order for more than a decade, but was moved up to an unfamiliar role at the top alongside Usman Khawaja.
“It’s thrown it right on par with an Ashes series being (expanded to) five Tests. The Border-Gavaskar doesn’t have that length of history (as the Ashes) but I think the level of competitiveness between both trophies is on par.
