Image Credit- AFP
Kuldeep Yadav, a left-arm wristspinner for India,
expressed that he relished the opportunity to see England’s Bazball strategy
for the first time in Visakhapatnam. He noted that it not only increased the
number of wicket-taking opportunities but also forced bowlers to consider
restricting hitters in Test matches.
“Usually in Tests you’re not used to teams
attacking you with this kind of approach [Bazball], but it also involves you a
lot more,” Kuldeep said ahead of the third Test against England starting
on February 15 in Rajkot. “As a spinner it makes you more focused on how
you want to bowl and what your approach is.
“Normally when you play Tests, you don’t worry
about batters attacking you, you’re only focused on how you want to get them
out. But here the approach is different, they’re in attacking mode so you also
have to plan how to restrict them. When they play shots, you have those many
opportunities to take wickets. It’s interesting. The last game was my first
[against Bazball], I enjoyed it a lot, it’s good for cricket.”
Kuldeep had only appeared in nine Tests since making
his debut in March 2017 before to the Visakhapatnam Test. It was his first in
more than half a year. India took a 143-run advantage in the first innings
thanks to three of Kuldeep’s four wickets, helping them tie the five-Test
series 1-1.
“It’s been good,” Kuldeep said with a smile
when asked about finally getting a chance in Test cricket. “Whatever Tests
I’ve played, I’ve performed well. I have three five-fors, so yeah it feels good
when you see the stats. I’m very happy.”
Kuldeep needed no reminders of his previous Test in
Rajkot, where he took a five-for against West Indies in 2018.
“It’ll be a batting wicket,” he said when
asked about the pitch for the upcoming Test against England. ‘It doesn’t mean
there’ll be 700-800 runs scored. It’ll be a good wicket. It won’t be a rank
turner, it will be a live wicket, good for cricket.”