Special praise for Indian quicks ahead of Australia Test
Bowling coach Troy Cooley has praised the work ethic of India’s star pacers ahead of the one-off Test against Australia after their impressive show against England.
Renuka Singh Thakur and Pooja Vastrakar were impressive in the Test against England and came in for special praise from the bowling coach ahead of the Test match against Australia.
Cooley was mighty pleased with the performances of the duo and spoke of their immaculate work ethic and added skillset at the Wankhede where the Indian team is training.
“Renuka [Singh] is coming from a couple of injuries and she has worked extremely hard to not only develop fitness but also to develop her skills,” Cooley said.
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“You are starting to see rewards now of all that hard work. Not only does she swing the ball back in naturally. She has now got the ball that straightens and leaves the right-handers.”
Renuka, returning from an injury layoff, was superb in the T20Is and Test against England and Cooley reserved praise for her improved skillset.
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“I really like the way she is putting together the sequence of deliveries and the number of deliveries she has got in option. Her toolbox is quite big now,” Cooley stated, adding that she was using her skills in a “strategic and tactical way”.
Vastrakar, who shone in the second innings against England, particularly with a sharp inswinger to dismiss Nat Sciver-Brunt, was highlighted for her tendency to attack the stumps and force errors.
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“I know behind the scenes what work they are putting in and the growth has been in line with the work they have done,” he said.
“The biggest improvement is they have added some skills and variations. Not just that, but the control and when to use them, that’s come into it quite nicely.”
“The strategy behind what ball they are going to use – whether to attack or defend – we talk about talking to the ball now and they are getting some good answers back. They are improving very well, there is still more room to go but they are up for it.”
