Morne Morkel Joins India’s Practice Session
Former South African Bowler Takes to the Nets
In Pune, India, bowling coach Morne Morkel participated in India’s training session, bowling for the first time in nearly a year. Morkel, who is now 40, had to remind himself to stay calm and avoid injury while bowling to KL Rahul before the second Test against New Zealand.
Morkel’s Self-Reflection
Morkel shared his thoughts on the experience, noting the importance of self-talk to prevent injury. He allowed himself to bowl no-balls to gain extra speed and emphasized injury prevention as a key focus.
Comparing Surfaces
Morkel reflected on the differences between subcontinent pitches and those in Australia and England, noting the challenges of bowling on India’s hard, slow surfaces. Despite this, he expressed enthusiasm about his performance and the opportunity to bowl again.
Looking Ahead
Morkel aims to strengthen India’s bowling attack as they prepare to face New Zealand in the second Test, following a 1-0 series deficit.
Doubts Revealed
Morne Morkel -: Morne Morkel is a former South African cricketer who played as a fast bowler. He is now working as a bowling coach for the Indian cricket team.
Bowling coach -: A bowling coach is someone who helps cricket players improve their bowling skills. They give tips and strategies to make the bowlers better at getting the batsmen out.
Subcontinent pitches -: Subcontinent pitches refer to cricket pitches found in countries like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. These pitches are usually known for being spin-friendly, meaning they help spin bowlers more than fast bowlers.
Test match -: A Test match is a type of cricket game that lasts up to five days. It is the longest format of the game and is considered the most challenging and prestigious.
Series deficit -: A series deficit means that a team is behind in a series of matches. In this case, India is losing 1-0 in the series against New Zealand, meaning they have lost one match and need to win the next to catch up.
