Morkel understands key to success in Sri Lanka

India will look to pick themselves up in the race for the ICC World Test Championship Final when they take on Sri Lanka in the upcoming series. The side had a positive start to their campaign, with a drawn away series in England, but lost to South Africa 2-0 at home and missed out on key WTC points.

India and Sri Lanka are at the fifth and sixth place in the standings. India have a point percentage of 48.15 while Sri Lanka have 41.67.

With the tour expected to feature challenging bowling conditions, India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel has spoken about the prospect of fielding a spin-heavy attack.  

"I think the way that we go with our spin bowling attack, or spinners, it's a very attacking option.” said Morkel. 

“And then, you can sort of create pressure with seam from one side and always allow yourself with spin to operate from the other side, from the other end."

During his playing days, Morkel featured in two Tests in the nation, and secured 12 scalps at an average of merely 16. 

Understanding the nature of the Sri Lankan wickets, Morkel opined that the surface would be a true wicket which would eventually take turn.

“But looking at the surface, for me, it looked like a good surface, and I think as the test match will go on, something will start to happen.

“But, yeah, for us, we've prepared basically for all that can come our way.”

While India will be used to the weather and the possibility of turn on the wicket, one big difference from their home encounters would be the switch from their usual SG ball to the Kookaburra ball.

Morkel explained how India's pace contingent - led by Mohammed Siraj, and featuring the likes of Prasidh Krishna, Auqib Nabi and Gurnoor Brar - would look to manage with the Kookaburra on the Sri Lankan pitches.

“The biggest challenge coming to Sri Lanka is the heat, the humidity, and the Kookaburra ball going soft a little earlier.

"Once it goes a little softer, how can we stack up the overs to keep up the intensity and pressure. The ball will go softer after 20-35 overs, I always expect that."

Back when he was a player, Morkel was the architect of a famous win, picking seven wickets in 2014, that eventually helped South Africa win the series. 

Morkel knew the exact permutations and combinations that were needed to get going as a pacer in Sri Lanka.

"We had quite a bit of shower this morning. And if the ball gets softer, it will become that much longer for the ball to reverse (swing).  

"In these conditions, its all about your mindset, if you are a fast bowler, if you're going to bowl the shorter spells, the energy you put in the ball and putting it into good areas: you'll always have opportunity.

"But even in our playing days, if you hit the good length, you always stood a chance of picking up the result."

For Morkel, quick assessment of conditions and practical application of that reading could be the key.

“But then how, what is our next step, and to be, street smart in terms of how we're going to use the crease, how we're going to use our short ball, all those conditions and all those sort of situations, we need to be able to sum up quite quickly.”

Barring Mohammed Siraj's 140 Test wickets, India's pace attack bears a rather inexperienced look with Prasidh Krishna (25 wickets from seven Tests) being the next most experienced, while Gurnoor and Auqib are uncapped.

Morkel, however, looked beyond numbers, backing the pacers to come good.

"Gurnoor here, not so long ago in the A side was very successful, so he knows, sort of, he's got an idea about the, about the conditions. Prasidh, Siraj, they've played a lot of cricket back home, where it's also tough bowling conditions."

Morkel also mentioned the importance of KL Rahul in the batting order and how he expects the versatile opener to bekey to team’s synergy and success.  

“In terms of experience, it's always handy to have that experience. I think KL, the last couple of years, the way he's been, been leading upfront with the batting has been exceptional. 

“And that's the sort of, communication that we expect him to speak to the guys here in the preparation at the nets, what to expect.”

India's first Test against Sri Lanka will begin on 15 August.