 Zaheer's fitness a worry ahead of Boxing Day Test
19th Dec 2007 21:00 IST
Agencies
Pace spearhead Zaheer Khan's fitness must be a worrying factor for the Indian think-tank ahead of the Boxing Day Test against Australia with the left-arm seamer yet to recover from his ankle injury.
The pacer, who missed the final Test against Pakistan in Bangalore due to the injury, had his right heel heavily bandaged while the Indians had their first practice session at the Melbourne Cricket Ground this afternoon.
Zaheer has impressed one and all with his performance since his return to international cricket last November and is seen as the central figure in achieving India's long-cherished aim of a maiden Test series victory Down Under.
After his stint with Worcestershire, a transformed Zaheer picked up 13 wickets at 30.38 from three Tests against South Africa in the away series and gave England a dose of their own medicine to grab 18 wickets at 20.33 in three matches.
So good was Zaheer against England on their own turf that the home batsmen had then conceded that it was almost impossible to pick his line and movement.
He picked up eight wickets from two Tests against Bangladesh (21.88), and five against Pakistan from two matches (38.20).
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