In every nets session of the Indian team on the tour of Caribbean, a separate net is reserved only for the bowlers. Labelled as tail-enders much to their annoyance, the specialist bowlers in the team spend quality time in the nets post their bowling sessions. Batting coach Sanjay Bangar has been ensuring that all the bowlers get batting practice.
In the first Test at Antigua, off-spinner R. Ashwin registered his third Test century and leg-spinner Amit Mishra scored a half-century. The contribution by the bowlers helped India crossed the 500-run mark, which put the home team under tremendous psychological pressure.
Mishra, who had a batting stint on the practice pitches of Sabina Park, Kingston, the venue for the second Test starting Saturday, said the lower-order batsmen will look to contribute in the upcoming games too. Mishra said that Head Coach Anil Kumble had explained in depth the importance of their roles with the bat. “I am lucky to be getting to work with Anil bhai. He is a legend. He has told me about the importance of batting for a tail-ender and how it boosts his confidence when he performs with the bat. He shares his experience with me and tells small things which make a difference in the overall outcome of the game. In the last game the wicket was slow, so he told me to vary my pace.”
It was extremely warm in Jamaica on the first day of the practice session after the team arrived in the island nation on Tuesday. “It is warm and there is no doubt about it. We trained hard so that when we play the second Test, we get used to the conditions.”
Mishra, who completed 500 first-class wickets said that India will look to carry on with their aggressive brand of cricket. “When you play aggressive cricket, it means as a bowler you are looking for wickets. Aggressive cricket does not mean you go out there on the field and fight or show disrespect. Aggressive cricket means you are looking at ways to pick wickets all the time.”
The 33-year-old picked two wickets in the first innings and got one in second where R. Ashwin ran through the line-up claiming seven for 83. The leggie said his job was to build pressure. I am bowling well. When you create pressure from one end, you can get wickets from the other. In the first match, R. Ashwin was bowling well, so my job was to create pressure from the other end. I am satisfied with my bowling and I will look to get more wickets in the upcoming Tests, so that it can help the team more.”
