Akash Deep’s recent two-wicket burst against England showcased the successful application of crucial advice from Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood.
The Mentor’s Wisdom
Back in 2022, Royal Challengers Bengaluru served as a classroom for young Indian pacer Akash Deep. His mentor? None other than Australian fast bowling stalwart Josh Hazlewood. Hazlewood, known for his disciplined Test cricket approach, often shared valuable insights with Akash Deep.
His core message was simple: Test cricket demands consistency in length, particularly on the off-stump line. He emphasized sticking to one’s strengths and patiently waiting for the batsman to make a mistake. This “master and apprentice” dynamic clearly left a lasting impression.
Putting Advice to Action
Akash Deep wasted no time implementing this wisdom in the recent match. Though his first over saw England opener Zak Crawley hit a couple of boundaries off full deliveries, Akash Deep didn’t deviate from his core plan.
He maintained the same disciplined line in his second over, and the rewards quickly followed. His persistence paid off when Ben Duckett edged a delivery to Shubman Gill at slips, who took a sharp diving catch. Miraculously, on the very next ball, Akash Deep struck again.
New batsman Ollie Pope attempted an ambitious flick to the leg side from an off-stump delivery, only to feather an edge to the cordon. This double-strike, achieving two wickets in two balls, perfectly exemplified Hazlewood’s advice in action.
India’s Dominance Continues
The pressure on England intensified from the other end as well. Mohammed Siraj joined the wicket-taking party, enticing Zak Crawley to push at a delivery that resulted in an edge behind the stumps.
These crucial breakthroughs, following Shubman Gill’s impressive batting performance, have firmly placed India in a commanding position in the Test match. England finished Day 2 at 77/3, still trailing India by a significant 510 runs.
England’s Bold Claim vs. India’s Strategy
Despite the challenging scoreboard, England’s spin bowling coach Jeetan Patel expressed a defiant stance after the day’s play. He stated that England would not play for a draw and would actively seek a way to win the game.
When asked to comment on this assertion, India’s Ravindra Jadeja offered a pragmatic response. He remarked that such declarations are easy to make in a press conference, but executing them on the field is a different challenge altogether.
Jadeja also hinted at India’s game plan for the upcoming days. He confirmed that the team would employ aggressive in-out fields and maintain a relentless attack on the English batsmen. Jadeja stressed that the significant scoreboard pressure would work in India’s favor.
- Akash Deep’s two quick wickets were a direct result of applying Josh Hazlewood’s advice.
- Hazlewood had advised him to stick to a consistent off-stump line and length.
- India holds a substantial 510-run lead over England at the close of Day 2.
- India plans to maintain an aggressive bowling strategy to capitalize on scoreboard pressure.
India’s strategic bowling, combined with their strong batting display, sets the stage for an exciting continuation of the Test match.
