India’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel, has identified a crucial area for improvement after the team’s recent performance in the ongoing series. The former South African pacer emphasized that India’s bowlers need to work on their consistency during the middle phase of an innings, particularly between overs 50 to 80, an area where they have been leaking runs. This period has proven to be a challenge, with India failing to execute their game plans effectively when the ball has softened, resulting in missed opportunities to control the game.
Morkel highlighted the team’s early progress during the match, stating that at one point, the bowlers had reduced Australia to 3 for 70. However, the partnership between world-class players like Steve Smith and Travis Head put India under pressure, showcasing the difficulty of bowling with an older ball. Morkel noted that the bowlers have game plans in place, but the execution needs improvement to prevent runs from accumulating during this critical phase of the game. The softer ball, he explained, requires a different approach for the bowlers to remain effective.
The bowling coach also acknowledged the efforts of several players, particularly Jasprit Bumrah, who has been performing exceptionally well, taking five wickets in the match. Morkel praised Bumrah as a world-class bowler and noted the importance of backing him up with solid support from other bowlers like Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj. Both players showed resilience despite challenges, with Akash Deep showing promise with the new and older balls.
Another area that Morkel touched upon was the performance of Ravindra Jadeja, who had a rough outing, conceding 76 runs in 16 overs. Despite this, Morkel expressed confidence in Jadeja’s abilities, stating that the all-rounder would bounce back, given his track record and experience in Test cricket.
This candid analysis from Morkel reflects his understanding of the game and his focus on improving India’s bowling unit, ensuring that they become more effective in the later stages of an innings.