Reddy Shines at Lord’s, Credits Cummins & Morkel for Bowling Boost
The third Test between India and England at Lord’s saw a surprise package in the form of Nitish Kumar Reddy, the fast-bowling all-rounder who made a significant impact with the ball on Day 1. Reddy, who had bowled only six overs in the second Test at Edgbaston, looked a different bowler at Lord’s, troubling the English batsmen with his pace and accuracy.
So, what was behind Reddy’s sudden improvement? According to the bowler himself, it was a combination of his IPL captain Pat Cummins’ guidance and the coaching of India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel. Reddy, who plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League (IPL), credits Cummins for helping him work on his bowling action and Morkel for providing valuable tips on how to exploit the English conditions.
“I’ve been working with Pat Cummins, my IPL captain, and he’s been helping me with my bowling action,” Reddy said in an interview. “He’s been telling me to focus on my run-up and follow-through, and that’s really helped me. And then, Morne Morkel, our bowling coach, has been giving me some great tips on how to bowl in these conditions. He’s been telling me to bowl fuller and use my pace to good effect.”
Reddy’s improvement with the ball was evident from the start of the match. He bowled with a lot of pace and accuracy, consistently beating the batsmen with his length and pace. He was particularly effective in the second session of the day, when he bowled a hat-trick of maidens to dismiss England’s top-order batsmen.
The English batsmen struggled to cope with Reddy’s pace and accuracy, and they were eventually bundled out for just 221 runs. Reddy finished with figures of 3/41, which was his best bowling performance in Test cricket so far.
Reddy’s success with the ball was not just limited to his individual performance. He also played a key role in India’s batting, scoring 34 runs in the first innings. His partnership with Virat Kohli (63) was particularly crucial, as it helped India to recover from a difficult position and eventually post a competitive total.
India’s coach Rahul Dravid was full of praise for Reddy’s performance, saying that he was impressed with the bowler’s ability to adapt to the conditions. “Nitish Reddy has been working hard on his bowling and it’s great to see the results,” Dravid said. “He’s been able to adapt to the conditions and bowl with a lot of pace and accuracy. He’s a valuable asset to our team and we’re glad to have him on board.”
Reddy’s performance at Lord’s was a significant boost to India’s chances of winning the Test series. With the series levelled at 1-1, India will be looking to win the third Test to take a crucial lead. Reddy’s improvement with the ball will be a major factor in their plans, and he will be looking to continue his good form in the remaining matches.
In conclusion, Reddy’s performance at Lord’s was a testament to his hard work and dedication. His ability to adapt to the conditions and bowl with pace and accuracy was a significant factor in India’s success, and he will be looking to continue his good form in the remaining matches. With Cummins and Morkel guiding him, Reddy is shaping up to be a key player for India in the future.
