India's bowling coach Morne Morkel believes that all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has immense potential to deliver game-changing and magical spell with the ball but has urged the Hyderabad player to take additional bowling responsibility during the team's upcoming five-match Test series against England, starting on June 20.
Reddy made his Test debut Down Under in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and impressed everyone with the bat in hand by scoring a century in the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the MCG. Reddy has been selected in the India squad for the England series and is in contention to play in the playing XI as the seam-bowling all-rounder in the team. However, unlike the Australia series, this time Reddy, will have competition from Shardul Thakur.
Thakur has a proven track in England and has won games for India with bat and ball. Reddy bowled just 26.5 overs in the two unofficial Tests against England Lions earlier this month. Morkel wants the all-rounder to step up his game with the ball in hand.
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"I think he (Reddy) is skillful. He is a guy who can bowl that magical ball. So for him, it is about creating that consistency, and that's something we want to work on. It's important for his game as well," Morkel said on the sidelines of India's training session.
"I've had conversations with him where I've challenged him to bowl a bit more. I want to see the ball more in his hands. We all know what he can do with the bat. But for a team, if you can have those bowling options, especially in these conditions, I think he'll be one to be excited and complement his bowling at that," he added.
Morne Morkel refuses to give a hint on who will play between Nitish Kumar & Shardul Thakur
The bowling coach did not disclose who will play between Thakur and Reddy. However, Morkel stated that whoever gets picked will strike the right balance between bat and ball.
"In terms of the balance, we're very happy with that. But for us as a bowling unit, finding that gear that we're going to need in Test matches is going to be important."
Morkel also expressed confidence in India's young squad under Shubman Gill for the Test series against England but stressed the need for match readiness and fitness.
"I think in terms of that, we cover like you say, all the bases. But for us now, the key thing is to get Test match fit, ready, that sharpness, to get that back. We haven't played Test matches for a while now.
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"In England, the conditions can suit you, and it's overcast, but still it's going to be good surfaces. I think we're going to be testing that."
