Youngster tipped to debut as India close in on playing XI for first Australia Test

With key fast bowler Mohammed Shami still returning from injury and not among the touring party in Australia, much debate is surrounding the make-up of India's pace attack for the crucial first Test against the Aussies as the two Test heavyweights battle it out for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Now it seems, the India management are tilting towards all-rounder Nitish Reddy as an added fast bowling option to boost the pace resources.

The youngster found strong backing from India bowling coach Morne Morkel.

"He [Nitish Reddy] is one of the young guys," Morkel said at a press conference. "[He has] all-round ability. He'll be one guy who can hold one end up for us, especially for the first couple of days."

"[He is a] wicket-to-wicket bowler. Any team in the world would want an all-rounder who can help pacers. It'll be on Jasprit [Bumrah] how he uses them. Definitely a guy to keep an eye on in the series."

While fiery quick Mohammed Siraj looks certain to partner pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and feature on the expected bouncy surface in Perth, and inexperienced right-armer Akash Deep is another option selectors have at their disposal. As per Morkel's assertion, Reddy can help in the rotation of the India pacers by delivering crucial overs in the innings.

Reddy has already found support from a couple of big names.

Former coach Ravi Shastri and ex-captain Sourav Ganguly believe young all-rounder Nitish Reddy can play a role during the first Test and should win selection for the series opener that commences on Friday.

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Shastri pointed to the crucial role fellow all-rounder Shardul Thakur played for India in the final of the ICC World Test Championship at The Oval last year where he claimed the key wickets of David Warner and Steve Smith during the first innings of the match and thinks Reddy can replicate that performance if he earns a debut in Perth.

"Nitish Reddy will have to do a job like Shardul Thakur did as the fourth seamer," Shastri said on the most recent episode of The ICC Review.

"He can bat a bit, give the bowlers a little bit of respite so that they can bowl in short spells…and be someone who will have to be good for those eight to 10 overs that he bowls."

Ganguly echoed Shastri's thoughts, with the former India skipper of the opinion that only one specialist spinner will win selection for the first Test.

"Look, there is absolutely no point in playing two specialist spinners either at Perth or at The Gabba," Ganguly told PTI.

"You obviously need to find a way to play Reddy in these conditions. He is a good batter and coming in at lower middle order, it will lend proper balance to the side."

Reddy has only three matches of international experience having debuts in a T20I series against Bangladesh last month, while the 21-year-old also impressed for Sunrisers Hyderabad during the most recent edition of the Indian Premier League this year.

Reddy's sole wicket for India A recently against Australia A was that of likely Australia debutant Nathan McSweeney and his former Under 19 coach N Nirmal Kumar believes the youngster will be perfectly suited to the rigours of Test cricket.

"Conditions in Perth will be suitable for him and I can only hope he makes it to the playing XI," Kumar told The New Indian Express.

"He can bowl seven or eight overs in a go. Overall he can bowl 20-22 overs in a day. In Tests, especially in Perth, that can be rewarding.

"He has trained for this for years. If one looks at his routine, he does fitness training for two hours every day. He makes sure he bowls 15 overs in nets every day. His batting in nets last between one and one-and-a-half-hour. He prefers open nets and does match simulation since his Under 19 days.

"He also makes sure he does fielding drills regularly and devotes around an hour for it. These routines have made him battle hardened. He has worked a lot on his strength and endurance making him an apt candidate for the opening Test."