Former India pacer Subroto Banerjee feels Varun Aaron should be included in the squad for the Australia tour and the World Cup despite the injury that forced him off the field on Sunday after bowling just 4.1 overs. Later diagnosed to have a quadriceps injury in the right leg, Aaron was replaced by Stuart Binny on Tuesday.
Banerjee, who coaches both Aaron and Umesh Yadav, said the pacer has had only one major injury and has been fine since then. "He had only one major back injury in the past but otherwise he hasn't had any serious injury. This is a different nature of injury, a strain caused by the pace at which he bowls. Some days' rest should be fine for him," Banerjee told HT from Mumbai.
Brief spell
"Look at how Ishant Sharma made a comeback after a long injury. Injuries are part and parcel of a pacer's life. This shouldn't mean Aaron should be ignored for the World Cup," said Banerjee who knows the Australian conditions well since he has lived and worked there for almost a decade.
Banerjee, however, said the latest injury shouldn't prompt Aaron to cut down on his pace or think about sticking to one format of the game. "It's a way out for pacers who have bowled for a long time. But Aaron is just starting his career. If he cuts down his pace he will lose his charm. India need someone to bowl quick there," he said.
{{/usCountry}}Banerjee, however, said the latest injury shouldn't prompt Aaron to cut down on his pace or think about sticking to one format of the game. "It's a way out for pacers who have bowled for a long time. But Aaron is just starting his career. If he cuts down his pace he will lose his charm. India need someone to bowl quick there," he said.
{{/usCountry}}"And anyway it will be MS Dhoni who will be going to make the decisions regarding the length and line the pacers would bowl. Bowlers like Aaron's job is not to cut down his pace and yet adhere to the strategy," he said.
The ongoing series against Sri Lanka is being seen as an opportunity to test out the pacers. But Banerjee feels the India selectors shouldn't look beyond five pacers. "Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant, Yadav and Aaron are my pick," he said.