Dambulla, Aug. 20: The big test facing India and bowling coach Eric Simmons ahead of the World Cup is managing the limited supply of medium-fast bowlers and their fitness.
“I think having more bowlers to rotate will help. If you have a group you are happy with you can do that, but you’d want to arrive at the World Cup knowing what your final XI is going to be,” Simmons said here on Friday.
To India’s credit they over-achieved in the recent Test series, managing to draw level without the services of Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh (in the final Test). “I think in the modern era you can’t always bank on your main bowlers to be fit. It was very difficult to lose someone like Zaheer and then Harbhajan but I was pleased with the way the boys stood up to be counted,” added Simmons.
Gary Kirsten has already raised concerns over the number of medium pacers tried, with a few even losing their way, in the last few seasons. Simmons has not worked with bowlers like R.P. Singh, who is off the radar at the moment, but was pleased by the effort of the pool he has available.
“A lot has been said about the number of bowlers who have been used. I have not worked with R.P. Singh or some of the others in the past but the youngsters are emerging well,” added the South African.
It is difficult to make fundamental changes to a bowler at this level. And with the World Cup only six months away there is a shortage of time to try and implement anything new. Simmons understands this facet well and is working within the scope of the individuals. “We drill hard at the nets to make sure the basics stay right. It’s also about what they do when put under pressure,” explained Simmons who took over from Venkatesh Prasad in January this year.
Bowlers losing pace, and discipline in terms of constant over-steeping has long been a problem. “Bowlers lose pace for different reasons. We are trying to get Ishant Sharma back up to the 140kmph mark consistently. Once a bowler loses confidence he tends to hold back a bit.”