India bowling coach Morne Morkel said that consistency will be the key for the team in English conditions as they prepare to take on the hosts in a 5-match Test series, starting at Leeds on June 20. This series will kick off India’s new World Test Championship cycle under the leadership of newly-appointed captain Shubman Gill.
“I think consistency is crucial in England and there is consistency when we practice, there’s consistency off the field, finding your process, what’s going to work for you as an individual. We’ve got a great variation, variety in our attack, guys with different skill sets so they can do that and still execute the basics well,” Morkel said on the sidelines of India’s training session.
“All in all, happy with the start so far. I was a little bit nervous in terms of the lack of red ball we’ve played but seeing how the guys are moving around and training in the last three days is a pleasing sight. We have a fantastic group. There’s some quality energy and that’s what you need. You need to go into a Test series confident and have that team spirit,” he added.
India last played a red-ball match in January this year which was the 5th Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney against Australia. They have a young squad this time around with players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan set to play for the first time in English soil.
“In the two-day practice so far, the conditions suited the fast bowlers. It was testing for the batters which also in a way helps them to prepare for what’s to come,” Morkel said.
“There’s been a lot of good banter between bat and ball but I think it’s only because the wickets are a lit bit spicy. As soon as the wickets go flat, the bowlers tend to back off. I’m going to tell them not to only talk when the wickets are nipping around but when its flat, that’s where we’re going to need the character at all times,” he added.
