New Delhi: India bowlers need to be more useful with the old ball between overs 50 and 80, says Morne Morkel after they were hit all around the Gabba by Travis Head and Steve Smith on the second day of the third Test in Brisbane on Sunday.
Head’s 152 and Smith’s 101 propelled Australia to 405/7 in their first innings after a rain-hit opening day when Australia were 28/0 on 13.2 overs that could be played.
India had reduced Australia to 75/3 in the morning session on Sunday but after that Head and Smith put together a 241-run fourth wicket partnership, clobbering 171 runs in 31 overs in the third session.
“First of all, we can say he’s (Head) in pretty good form. But I think for us with the ball, if you look at it from overs 50 to 80, even in the last game, is where we fall short, leaking (runs) a little bit. So, that’s one area I think we need to get better at,” Morkel said at the end of Sunday’s play.
“First up with the ball this morning, we were pretty good, at 3 for 70, but took nothing away from two world-class players, Smith we know, he’s a guy who also can bat long and score runs. They (Smith and Head) put a partnership there and put us under pressure with a softer ball.
“It’s definitely an area that we need to focus on, maybe deeper in the innings. Yes, we’ve got the game plans, but are we executing those game plans with a softer ball from both ends? That’s something we need to get better at,” he added.
‘Margin very small while bowling to Head’
Former South Africa pacer Morkel said they has planned to bowl straight to Head, cramping him for room but a slight deviation in line and length is enough for the left hander to punish the bowlers.
“Our plan going into this game was to bowl a little bit more over the wicket, a straighter line. We felt he played it quite nicely in Adelaide when we came around (the wicket).
“The margins to him are just so small and like I said, once he’s in, what is the best way for the team and for you (is) to maybe slow down the scoring rate because you know he’s going to be aggressive,” he said.
“The best way (of controlling Head) is bringing a little bit of control into the game and like I said, from over 50 with that softer ball, that’s where we’re leaking (runs). When Head comes on straight, the pitch kind of feels to (be favourable) a side.
“I’m not taking anything away from that, but it is a venue where getting used to bowling the right length and trusting that, it does take a bit of time,” he added.
Jasprit Bumrah (5/72) is the only Indian bowler to have made a lasting impact on the Aussie batters so far.
Head’s 152 and Smith’s 101 propelled Australia to 405/7 in their first innings at stumps on second day of the third Test in Brisbane on Sunday Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
