Morne Morkel Anticipates England's Pitch Conditions for Upcoming Test Series
Morkel's Insights on Pitch Conditions
Morne Morkel, the bowling coach for India, predicts that the pitches in England will be "less spicy" compared to previous experiences. He emphasized a vital aspect that players must uphold to excel during this challenging tour.
Upon arriving in England, the Indian team has been engaged in rigorous practice sessions, accompanied by light-hearted banter among players. Morkel, who has a history of success on English pitches, has been keenly observing the ongoing contest between batters and bowlers alongside the coaching staff.
Morkel's Observations on Practice Sessions
After a few days of practice, Morkel noted that the pitch favored fast bowlers, making it tough for batters to settle in, but beneficial for their long-term development.
"The initial two days of practice have shown that the conditions are advantageous for fast bowlers. This early phase of the tour is thrilling as it boosts their confidence. It poses challenges for batters, which ultimately prepares them for future encounters," Morkel stated in a video shared by the BCCI.
"I don't expect the wickets to be as lively as those we've faced here. The banter between bat and ball is lively, but that's primarily due to the slightly spicy nature of the wickets," he added.
Advice for the Pace Bowling Unit
As Morkel anticipates how the wickets will behave when the tour commences on June 20 at Headingley, he aims to deliver a straightforward message to his pace bowlers. He encourages them to maintain communication not only when conditions favor movement but also when the pitch becomes flat, as that is when their "character" will be truly tested.
"When the wickets flatten out, bowlers often tend to retreat. I will advise them to engage in discussions not just when the conditions are conducive to movement. When the pitch is flat, that’s when we need to showcase our character," he remarked.
Building Towards a New Era in Test Cricket
As each day passes, India approaches the start of a new chapter in Test cricket, notably without key players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who recently retired from the format.
Morkel's Call for Consistency
Despite having a relatively inexperienced squad, Morkel stressed the significance of maintaining consistency both on and off the field to achieve success in England.
"We are gradually preparing for the first Test match. I believe that consistency is crucial in England. This includes consistency in practice and off the field, as players need to discover their individual processes that work for them. Our bowling attack boasts a great variety of skill sets," he explained.
"We are pleased with our progress so far. Initially, I was concerned about the limited red-ball matches we've played, but observing the players' movements and training over the past three days has been encouraging. We have a talented group, and it's essential to enter a Test series with confidence and team spirit, which they have demonstrated effectively so far," he concluded.
India's Squad
The Indian squad includes: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rishabh Pant (Vice-Captain & Wicketkeeper), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (Wicketkeeper), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.