- POPDIARIES.COM - A La Une - 04/Jan 17:18

Despite Injury Concerns, Bumrah Issues "Ready to Bowl" Statement

India's overall lead isn't yet close to the 200-run mark, but pacer Prasidh Krishna believes the unpredictable nature of the SCG pitch will keep them satisfied. With batting expected to be tough for Australia in the 4th innings due to the variable bounce, India ended the 2nd day at 141 for Six, with a lead of 145.  A triumph in the Sydney Test would ensure India retains the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. "It is getting difficult in some areas. The ball is keeping low sometimes but there is enough bounce for us to be in the game and look for those edges. Try and beat them on either side of the bat," Prasidh stated  during a media interaction. He refrained from putting a particular number on what would constitute a defendable total for all the visitors. "There is no particular number in mind but then as many runs as we score would be great. We are ready to bowl them out for whatever," said the Karnataka speedster, who claimed the prized wicket of Steve Smith in the very 1st innings. Prasidh took Smith's wicket just before lunch, but during his spell earlier in the first session, he confessed to missing his length, either over-pitching or under-pitching. "The difference was when I got back from lunch, I actually looked at where I was bowling. I sat with the analyst and we had a better idea of what my reference point is. When I came in to bowl next, that really helped." Prasidh had arrived in Australia at least 3 weeks ahead of the senior team and had played in the India A games. He looked confident during his time at the MCG against Australia A. "I did get a bit of confidence bowling in Australia and having played some red ball cricket previously in the Duleep Trophy, I was in good rhythm. "When I got the ball in hand, obviously there was a bit of nerves when I started off, the first over went well, the next few didn't go really well. But then I have enough people in the team who I can actually go to sit down and discuss what went wrong, what could have been better." Prasidh also thanked bowling coach Morne Morkel for his kind  guidance with his bowling plans. "Morne and myself, we kind of have a lot of discussions about what has to be done and things are going well for now."  The previous Test Prasidh played was in Cape Town in January 2024, and his journey has been filled with highs and lows, including a back surgery in New Zealand. When questioned about the changes he's made to his bowling, he spoke about the mental shift from opening the bowling with the Red SG Test ball for Karnataka, to now bowling as 1st change with a semi-old Kookaburra ball, which has less seam movement. "That was a really good learning curve for me because every time I played for my state I was bowling with a new ball, coming here having to bowl one change, I looked at what everybody in the world does when they are bowling one change." "It was about trying to give control to the team, have as much control and be consistent in the lines and the lengths that you are bowling. So I think that is the mental shift that I made and obviously I had to put in some work to try and get myself to that point." READ MORE :- Japanese Woman, 116, leaves her body, Marking End of Record Age