Former Australia cricketer Tom Moody cited the "eagerness to power the ball" as one major reason behind Indian opener Prithvi Shaw's twin failures in the first Test of the series against Australia in Adelaide.
After being dismissed for a second-ball duck in the first innings, Shaw made just 4 runs in the second. On both occasions, the attacking right-hander was out bowled, not helping the debates around his technique at the top of the order.
WATCH - Ponting predicts Shaw's exact mode of dismissal before he's out for a duck
"Feel for Prithvi Shaw, he is a wonderful talent but his eagerness to power the ball, also the challenge that T20 has on one’s technique is his undoing. Most players searching for power lose balance and their hands stray away from their bodies," Moody wrote over Twitter.
Moody also questioned the selectors and the team management for going in with Shaw when he is so obviously out of form.
"The first point I’m gonna make is that Prithvi Shaw is not the one that has failed here, the selectors have failed," he had said on ESPNcricinfo's 'Match Day'. "Because he shouldn’t have been picked, to begin with, knowing that he is coming into this Test series out of form and also with the technical flaws that have been exposed after a dozen balls. So, to me, he was set up the fail in a way."
"To me, Shubman Gill should’ve been the person that played to begin with. His technique is a lot more watertight and he’s shown that he has got wonderful temperament."
But now having picked the youngster, Moody believes, the decision-makers should stick with Shaw for at least the next Test at the MCG.
"And I’m not saying that Prithvi Shaw is not going to make a good test cricketer. He’s got a huge future in front of him, but at the moment, I don’t think it’s so much his fault, I think the actual decision to play him was the wrong decision," he said.
"I don’t think the selectors have any other choice but to back him [Shaw] for Melbourne [Boxing Day Test] regardless whether they think it’s going to be more of a time wicket or whatever the case may be."
"But you cannot go in with conviction and pick someone and suddenly on the back of 2 knocks, suddenly do a backflip and then withdraw him particularly given what the circumstances are coming in Test 3 and Test 4 with Rohit Sharma coming back into the side when there will be too much movement in the top order which is unsettling for everyone," Moody concluded.
