Ahead of warm-up game, big guns work out ways to counter Sri Lanka’s unorthodox bowling attack

Colombo, July 17: A day before their warm-up game, the Indians got a Shoaib Akhtar clone as a net bowler. He had more hair and less pace than the famous Pakistan speedster and all the Indians got from this body double was a few laughs. If the visitors had a choice, they would have preferred someone with even a passing resemblance to either Murali or Mendis bowl at them.

Ask Indian coach Gary Kirsten about the problems of preparing for a Test match against a rival team that is expected to have a couple of unique and unorthodox bowlers and it brings back memories from his playing days in the early ‘90s. “It isn’t easy,” he says as he speaks about his former team mate Paul Adams of the frog-in-the-blender fame. “He went through a similar process when he came to international cricket. People had a problem facing him initially but once they played him things became easier,” he adds.

Things lighten up when a suggestion is floated in half-jest about Kirsten attempting to imitate Murali or Mendis during his throw downs to the batsman. “I am a South African, I don’t have too much creativity in my wrists,” is the modest reply laced with humour from man with a brilliant record in the sub-continent, a batsman who had an unmistakable penchant to counter the turning ball with soft hands.

Discussions about Kirsten’s wrists can be postponed for now, India’s priority lying in getting prepared for the Tests ahead. Friday’s game against the Sri Lanka Board President XI is an outing for the visitors, many of whom haven’t played competitive cricket for a while, to get match practice.

The fact that India’s eyes are on the bigger picture becomes clear as the net session is about to get over. Sourav Ganguly, with a ball in hand, is speaking to Rahul Dravid about Murali’s release. Ganguly draws imaginary circles around the ball to explain the revolutions that Murali gives. After a brief discussion, Dravid takes the ball in his hand and the idea exchange continues.

With the theory classes over, they move to coach Kirsten, who is busy giving throw-downs. Kirsten, the self-confessed owner of non-creative wrists, vacates his throw-down spot to Sachin Tendulkar, who takes the ball in hand. He does a mini-Murali from about 11 yards as Dinesh Karthik attempts to the guess the movement of the ball from the release. The diligent student of the game Dravid too can’t miss this master class as he too takes guard to Tendulkar. Maybe, this is what Kirsten had it in mind when he said that there are enough experienced players in the Indian side to work out a way to deal with the unique Lankan bowling attack.

The Sri Lankans, known to keep their cards close to the chest, will not be revealing much about their Test side during the warm-up game. Dilhara Fernando, Chanaka Welagedera, Chamara Silva and Upul Tharanga are the four players in the President’s XI team expected to be in the Lanka Test squad. And since Kirsten has said India will play more or less the same playing XI tomorrow that will take field for the Tests, the hosts are going to benefit more from this game as compared to the visitors.

“I have been in the squad for a while but not getting into the playing XI this is my chance to cement a place,” President’s XI skipper Jehan Mubarak said. “A good performance against the Indian team will help me do that.”