Ishant Sharma bowled only six overs during the first day © Getty Images
By CricketCountry Staff
Canberra: Dec 15, 2011
The Indian team management on Thursday denied that right-arm pacer Ishant Sharma suffered an injury during their warm-up game against Cricket Australia’s Chairman XI in Canberra.
Shivlal Yadav, the team manager clarified to the media covering the match that Ishant, who returned to the pavilion twice during the first session, is not suffering any injury.
According to the manager, Ishant was forced to abandon his sixth over because the strapping on his ankle had come loose, adding that he was supposed to bowl only six overs in the day, which is the reason he didn’t return to the field.
The Age reported that another member of the support staff informed Ishant’s interrupted day had more to do with their hectic last 24 hour. Team India arrived in Canberra after 3am on Wednesday and attended the Sir Donald Bradman Oration function the same evening.
Earlier, it was reported that Ishant might have picked an injury as he returned twice to the pavilion during India’s two-day warm-up game against Cricket Australia’s Chairman XI at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Thursday.
Ishant opened the bowling for India, but returned to the pavilion soon after finishing his first over. He was seen pointing out his foot to the Indian physiotherapist.
But the 23-year-old soon returned to the ground and bowled flawlessly till his sixth over.
The Australian reported that a more alarming moment came when he walked back to the pavilion once again after bowling three deliveries of the sixth over.
The Indian team management have not made any announcement regarding Ishant.
India are already without their two first-choice pacers Varun Aaron and Praveen Kumar, and Zaheer Khan yet to prove his fitness.
