English batsmen need to work out a method to play Kuldeep Yadav, asserted Graham Thorpe

07/14/2018

Graham Thorpe believes that England's batsmen are picking India's left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav but they need to spend time on crease against him to improve their method against him. He pointed out that it is important for English batsmen that they don’t panic because of the situation.

England’s batting coach Graham Thorpe has admitted that English batsmen need to improve their method against Kuldeep Yadav following his 6/25 in the first ODI at Trent Bridge. Yadav's six-wicket haul in Nottingham, his maiden five-for in one-day cricket for India, was his second match-winning spell of the tour after he took 5/24 in the first T20I at Old Trafford. His performances have exposed England's batsmen who have, at times, looked unsure of which way the ball would be spinning.

"From what I'm hearing with my chats with them [the batsmen], it's not like they can't pick him -- so for me, that's important," Thorpe said as quoted by Cricbuzz after the eight-wicket defeat by India at Trent Bridge. "It's about looking at it logically and then working out a method of playing him. It's more of the mental side. Also about being proactive with our movements at the crease against him so if you don't pick him, you're still in a good position to play him."

England responded well after the first T20I match at Old Trafford as Yadav went wicketless in the next match in Cardiff, and Thorpe stated that his batsmen would have to do something similar to pull things back in the second ODI at Lord's on Saturday.

"We responded well in the 20-over game and we've got to respond well in the 50-over games. It's important not to over panic. Our guys who have spent time at the crease against him have come back and said this is happening and that's happening. You do need to manoeuvre the ball around. And also having the ability to play the bigger shots against him.

"The one thing about him playing is that you start to formulate plans. The more you face the trajectory, the flight, the speed of the ball, they're the things you pick up on. You've also got to set-up as player against it; your method, your footwork, your position on the crease,” he added.

Three of the four white-ball matches so far on India's tour of England have resulted in heavy defeats for Eoin Morgan's men, which has been a harsh reality check after the five-nil whitewash of Australia. Following the Trent Bridge defeat, Morgan said that was "healthy" for the development of his side before next year's World Cup and Thorpe agreed.

"It reminds you of your development against spin bowling and that's something we will continue to look at," he said. "Teams we play against, when the ball turns, we are going to have to have good plans and cope.

"You need clarity and it's a good reminder to the team about constantly looking to improve. We've done some really good things [in ODI cricket]. We know India are going to be a massive challenge for us. It's another good reminder of the levels we need to be at all the time if we are to beat the best."

English batsmen need to work out a method to play Kuldeep Yadav, asserted Graham Thorpe

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