Dawid Malan‘s injury in the game against Sri Lanka was a big blow for England ahead of their T20 World Cup semi-final game against India, but England has got another big hitter in their squad in the form of Phil Salt who is likely to replace Malan in the playing XI for the semi-final.
Phil Salt was actually picked in England’s squad as a reserve wicket-keeper batsman who could also open the batting, but now with Malan out, he might bat at no. 3.
The semi-final between India and England has to be played at Adelaide Oval and the good thing for India is that the match will be played on a used pitch, so their spinners can come into play. But the flip side is that the square boundaries at the Adelaide Oval are very short.
If someone can play the sweep shot well or can play aggressively square of the wicket against the spinners despite the ball gripping into the surface, he can score big runs at Adelaide Oval and that’s the danger that comes with Phil Salt because he can play square of the wicket.
Indian fans are concerned about power-hitting ability of Phil Salt
While the England fans are not overly happy with the fact that Malan can be ruled out of the semi-final, the Indian fans are feeling almost the same way because there is a concern among the Indian fans that Phil Salt can actually prove to be more dangerous for India.
Salt is, however, short of match practice because he has not played a single T20 game since landing in Australia. He was not a part of England’s playing XI in any of the three games of the T20I series against Australia either, which took place right before the T20 World Cup.
Here is how the Indian fans reacted after the news surfaced that Phil Salt might replace Dawid Malan in England’s playing XI for the semi-final against India –
Arey bhai.. smaller square boundary and another slogger! 🤦🏻♀️
— Neha (@CircNeha) November 8, 2022
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Advertisement— पार्थ. (@iparthjoshii) November 8, 2022
Axar in powerplay needed.. https://t.co/tlsHKF7FaW
— Danny (@Ddnyana) November 8, 2022
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Oh lendl simmons feels https://t.co/8oaqPzEg4h
Advertisement— ARAVIND R (@dakaltydamalty) November 8, 2022
Add more to the point that we should chase…. If it doesn't swing we are in for chasing a huge total
We need to score atleast 200 batting first which i have no hope https://t.co/vHVBNYlsG6
Advertisement— danishhayat (@hayatdanish02) November 8, 2022
Game over 😵 https://t.co/y7jfYfkpzq
— Manu (@manu_varma) November 8, 2022
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Will smash us all over park 😔 https://t.co/DRQqTsBSnA
Advertisement— हर्षित (@Italymeraghar) November 8, 2022
Phil Salt ready to play the game of his life. https://t.co/wx52bqgSkz
— Soham 🤌🏻 (@Phoenixswoosh) November 8, 2022
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