Did Prasidh Bowl the Lengths He Wanted in the Leeds Test?

Birmingham, June 28 (NationPress) Following a costly performance in the first match of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Headingley, Indian fast bowler Prasidh Krishna expressed his eagerness to rectify his mistakes in the upcoming matches, acknowledging that he failed to bowl the ideal lengths during the initial game.

England triumphed in the first Test by five wickets, leading 1-0 in the five-match series, while Prasidh struggled in his debut longer-format appearance in the country. He secured three wickets in the first innings but allowed 128 runs in 20 overs, with an economy rate of 6.4. In the second innings, although he took two wickets, he conceded 92 runs in 15 overs at an economy rate of 6.1.

“Reflecting on the first innings, I was a bit too short from my target, ideally around 6-8 meters. In the second innings, I improved slightly, as the wicket was a tad slower. I had to pitch a few balls slightly behind the 8-meter mark and then bowl fuller when aiming for a wicket. Clearly, I did not bowl the lengths I intended,” Prasidh remarked.

“A factor was my reluctance to float the ball up. It took me some time to adapt to the slope on that side. No excuses, but as a professional, I should manage this better. I take full responsibility and aim to improve next time,” he added to reporters in Birmingham, ahead of the second Test at Edgbaston on July 2.

Alongside Shardul Thakur, Prasidh was expected to support Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, but his high run rate diminished the pressure created by the senior bowlers. Nonetheless, Prasidh is focused on resolving this issue.

“Whenever I bowl, my aim is to deliver a maiden over. I strive to avoid giving away boundaries. The outfield was quick, and my lengths and lines were often not ideal, which allowed the batsmen to take advantage. Some resulted in edges, while others were bouncers yielding runs. It’s crucial for someone in the team to step up,” he noted.

“If I focus solely on my statistics and economy without considering wickets, I find myself conceding boundaries. I’m willing to change my approach to secure wickets. Every time I bowl, I aim to maintain a low economy and build pressure,” he explained.

“I have had discussions with others regarding my performance in this game. My goal is to minimize my errors. I am learning and understand that it’s my responsibility to improve, and that’s my focus. I want to ensure I invest the right effort to return and deliver better results,” he concluded.

With India likely to be without Bumrah for at least two of the remaining four Tests in England, Krishna acknowledges the chance to step up whenever the leading fast bowler is rested. “The culture we’ve built promotes learning from each other, regardless of who is present. Bumrah has provided guidance to all of us, even before arriving here,” he stated.

“As for me, I’ve been part of this team for several years, so these discussions continue. Experience is something you must gain firsthand, and all of us are eager for this opportunity,” Prasidh added.

He concluded by stating that the dressing room atmosphere is positive despite the disappointing defeat in Leeds. “The dressing room remains upbeat and highly motivated. We arrived at Headingley aware of what this opportunity meant for us. Even during the game, we may have appeared subdued at times,” he noted.

“However, we had a plan and executed it, taking two wickets in quick succession. This kept our motivation alive. As a bowling unit, when events unfolded, we still managed to take the new ball,” he remarked.

“They needed around 20 runs, maintaining hope that we could create something. We remained committed until the last run, ensuring they worked hard for every point,” he concluded.