Morkel fends off questions regarding Kuldeep’s exclusion and says they are looking for ways to get him in the team.
Following India’s first 500-run loss outside of Asia and the West Indies in over a decade, bowling coach Morne Morkel was unsure of his answers to a number of questions, including the bowlers’ declining pace, the use of Shardul Thakur as an all-rounder, and the delayed introduction of Washington Sundar into the attack. However, he was certain that India had been selecting players in search of batting cover.
Morkel was frequently questioned about why Kuldeep Yadav, a special strike bowler who hasn’t participated in a Test match on this tour, had been left out.
“I think it’s finding when he comes in, how we can find balance and how we can get that batting line-up to be a little bit longer and stronger,” Morkel said. “We’ve seen in the past that we’ve lost wickets in clumps. Kuldeep is world class and he’s bowling really well at the moment, so we’re trying our best to find ways for him to get in. But unfortunately, with that, just to balance with batting throws it out a little bit.”
Morkel was asked again why India were being so defensive. “I do think at the end of the day you need runs on the board, and for us obviously giving that a little bit of extra batting protection, wanting to get totals of 400-plus,” he said. “You need it against England, especially the way they play, their brand of cricket.
“But to be honest, the wicket so far has been dry and it’s actually spun a little bit. So that brings Washington into the game. It brings Jaddu [Jadeja] into the game. So Kuldeep, we are trying to find a way for him, but it is just more that consistent runs from our top six that we want so that we can bring a guy like Kuldeep in.”
Morkel was questioned about why the team doesn’t believe that using proper strike bowlers also lessens the workload for the hitters by allowing them to win games with less runs.
“There’s always an option of going in with quicks and picking your six best bat,” Morkel said. “All those discussions we have had or we do discuss. But I think so far in this match, the last two Test matches, the guys who have played have done a good job in terms of spin bowling. We were ever so close to winning that Test match at Lord’s. We had a great Test match at Edgbaston. So I think so far we’ve played good cricket, good cricket bar yesterday’s bowling performance.”