Reddy Shines at Lord’s, Credits Cummins & Morkel for Bowling Boost
The third Test between India and England at Lord’s has gotten off to a thrilling start, with the Indian team putting up a strong performance on the first day of the match. One of the standout performers for India was Nitish Kumar Reddy, the fast-bowling all-rounder who bowled just six overs in the second Test at Edgbaston. However, Reddy made a solid impact with the ball at Lord’s, and he credits his IPL captain at Sunrisers Hyderabad, Pat Cummins, and India bowling coach Morne Morkel for his improvement.
Reddy’s impressive display with the ball saw him pick up two wickets, including that of England opener Zak Crawley, who was looking set to make a big score. Reddy’s pace and accuracy were a handful for the England batsmen, and he was able to extract bounce and movement from the Lord’s pitch. His performance was all the more impressive given that he had struggled with the ball in the previous Test at Edgbaston, where he bowled just six overs.
So, what was the secret behind Reddy’s improved performance at Lord’s? According to the fast-bowling all-rounder, it was the guidance and coaching he received from Pat Cummins and Morne Morkel. Reddy has been working closely with Cummins during the IPL, and the Australian pacer has been instrumental in helping him improve his bowling. Cummins, who is known for his exceptional skills with the ball, has been sharing his expertise with Reddy, and the Indian bowler has been able to learn from him.
“I’ve been working with Pat Cummins during the IPL, and he’s been helping me improve my bowling,” Reddy said in an interview after the day’s play. “He’s been giving me tips on how to bowl better, and I’ve been trying to implement them in my game. I’m grateful to have him as my captain and mentor.”
Reddy also credited Morne Morkel, India’s bowling coach, for his guidance and support. Morkel, who is a former South African pacer, has been working closely with the Indian bowling unit, and Reddy has been able to learn a lot from him.
“Morne Morkel has been a huge help to me,” Reddy said. “He’s been working with the bowling unit, and he’s been giving us tips on how to bowl better. He’s been helping me with my technique, and I’m grateful to have him as our bowling coach.”
Reddy’s impressive performance at Lord’s was all the more impressive given the conditions he had to bowl in. The Lord’s pitch was dry and dusty, and the English weather was overcast and windy, making it difficult for the bowlers to get any purchase from the pitch. However, Reddy was able to adapt to the conditions and use his pace and accuracy to good effect.
Reddy’s bowling was not the only highlight of the day’s play, however. India’s top order batsmen also put up a strong performance, with Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma both making half-centuries. Pujara, who has been struggling for form in recent times, looked like his old self, playing some beautiful shots and reaching his half-century before being dismissed by England pacer James Anderson.
Rohit Sharma, who has been in excellent form in recent times, also looked solid at the crease, playing some attractive shots and reaching his half-century before being dismissed by England spinner Jack Leach. India finished the day’s play on 276/6, with Reddy and Jasprit Bumrah both unbeaten on 15.
In conclusion, Reddy’s impressive performance at Lord’s was a testament to his hard work and dedication to his craft. His credits to Cummins and Morkel for his improvement with the ball were well-deserved, and it was clear that he had learned a lot from his IPL captain and India bowling coach. With Reddy and the rest of the Indian team looking strong, it will be interesting to see how the rest of the Test plays out.
