New Zealand bowling coach Jacob Oram encouraged his bowlers to accept the challenge and learn how to overcome Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Suryakumar Yadav’s persistent aggression, which has made it challenging for them to “remain calm” throughout the current T20I series.
In the last three Twenty20 Internationals, the three Indian top-order batters have routinely scored at a strike-rate of almost 250, putting the New Zealand attack to the test.
“It’s been a little bit of chaos out in the middle with the ball flying everywhere, to remain calm and controlled and remember those plans and then obviously execute them. But I say again, it’s all part of the learning,” Oram was quoted as saying by PTI during the pre-match press conference in Visakhapatnam.
Oram was reminded of Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya, who batted similarly from the 1990s until the mid-2000s, by the clean-hitting style of Indian batters.
“Jayasurya from Sri Lanka who kind of did the same thing at that time and I think that’s just a natural progression of the game. I think what you see is the tendency for bowlers to have to catch up and that’s our challenge now as the bowling coach and there are plenty of discussions happening.”
However, it has been extremely difficult for the Kiwi bowlers to neutralize three batters who are at their smashing best.
“Abhishek at the moment … outstanding form, hitting it clean, let’s just hope game two is reproduced in game four and we get him out early. We’re not glazing over these results. But the thing is he’s (Abhishek) not the only one, Suryakumar has played well, Ishan Kishan in the second game. We know there are challenges up and down the (Indian batting) line-up,” said Oram.
Oram’s words were echoed by pacer Lockie Ferguson, who put in an extended bowling session at the nets ahead of Wednesday’s fourth T20I.
“Yeah, he’s batting well. He’s full of confidence and he’s playing some outstanding shots. We’ve seen players do this in the past. It’s important to review, find areas where he’s a little bit weaker and try to bring an aggressive brand of cricket into what we’re playing,” said Ferguson.
“But there’s no doubt that he’s in fine form. So, sometimes it’s best to try to get him off-strike, get nim at the other end and bowl to the other batter,” the pacer chuckled.
Ferguson’s inclusion has given the New Zealand bowling team some experience. However, Oram has struggled thus far to maintain the youthful bowling group’s morale in the face of an unrelenting assault by Indian batters.
“I think there are a couple of factors. The first and Foremost is a realisation that it’s hard in these conditions. This isn’t New Zealand with green grass and the ball seeming and bouncing. We mentioned before about the likes of Abhishek, SKY, Ishan … it’s a good side and we appreciate that.
“I keep using the word challenge, so the challenge for us is to peel back those layers, to appreciate how hard it is here, but still find little things along the way that we can improve,” he added.
