Bharat Arun Analyzes Indian Pacers' Strategies for Upcoming Test Series in England

Tactical Insights for Indian Bowlers

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 7: As India prepares for an intense five-match Test series in England, former bowling coach Bharat Arun has shared crucial tactical insights that could influence the performance of Indian pacers in the challenging swinging conditions.

In a conversation with Revsportz, Arun delved into the development and significance of Mohammed Siraj, emphasizing how environmental factors and bowling angles can enhance or diminish a bowler's effectiveness.

He reflected on Siraj's performances in 2021, noting that his natural bowling angle was particularly effective against left-handed batsmen.

Arun stated during his discussion with Boria Majumdar, "When bowling to left-handers, he had a natural angle that moved away from them."

He added, "However, when he attempted to change that angle by bowling around the wicket, it reduced his effectiveness, especially with slight movement off the pitch."

Arun recalled a pivotal moment at Lord's where a tactical shift made a notable impact.

"At Lord's, the slope plays a crucial role. If you're bowling from the Pavilion End and choose to bowl around the wicket, you miss out on the slope's advantage," he explained.

"I remember suggesting to him at tea to switch to over the wicket and target the leg side of the left-hander. This way, the natural angle would still move away from the off stump," he noted.

He praised Siraj's adaptability, describing him as "very, very capable" and suggested that he could be a key player in the upcoming series due to his understanding of the conditions and angles.

Arun also expressed confidence in Arshdeep Singh's abilities, particularly in seam-friendly English conditions.

"I was really impressed with Arshdeep during the IPL. He has the ability to move the white ball in both directions," Arun remarked.

He highlighted the significance of the Dukes ball in England, which is often regarded as ideal for seam bowlers.

"The Dukes ball is arguably the most bowler-friendly in world cricket, especially regarding seam and shine. The conditions in England are highly favorable for bowlers," he stated.

Arun believes that bowlers like Siraj and Arshdeep could play a crucial role in the Test series, provided they can adapt to the nuances of English conditions, including the Dukes ball and the slope at Lord's.

India's Test squad for the England series includes: Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, and Kuldeep Yadav.