Manchester, July 26(HS): In the ongoing Test series against England, India’s bowling faced significant challenges, notably conceding over 500 runs for the first time in a decade outside Asia and the West Indies. Following this, bowling coach Morne Morkel was questioned about various issues, including declining pace and the selection of Shardul Thakur as an all-rounder, as well as Washington Sundar’s late bowling. Morkel explained that team selection emphasized batting depth.

Kuldeep Yadav’s absence from the Test lineup prompted inquiries, with Morkel acknowledging his talent but stressing the need for a balanced team and strong batting performance to integrate him. He remarked that India’s strategy aimed for a score over 400 against England’s aggressive batting, making batting depth crucial.

When questioned about India’s defensive approach, Morkel defended the team’s strategy, noting the spinners’ performance in the series and highlighting the near victories at Lords and Edgbaston. Concerns about the bowlers’ energy levels were evident, with Morkel admitting that overexertion led to missed line and length. He advised that extra pace and energy are vital for creating wicket-taking opportunities.

Regarding Anshul Kamboj’s debut, Morkel explained the decision to replace Prasidh Krishna with Kamboj, citing his capability to bowl long spells accurately, demonstrated during the India A tour and in domestic cricket. Morkel further clarified Shardul’s limited bowling usage, indicating that a four-fast-bowler strategy was ineffective given the high run rate. Lastly, he highlighted Washington Sundar’s successful late bowling stint, where he managed to claim two wickets after an earlier focus on seamers.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar