Pigeon Thumbs Up for Pandey, Aaron

[rkt.india]

CHENNAI: The last time India toured England, MS Dhoni’s team lost all four Test matches. But Aussie pace legend Glenn McGrath believes the new-look team will perform better than the one in 2011. “India are a good side. If they begin well and relish the challenge, then they have a good chance to do well,” said McGrath, who is here at MRF Pace Foundation. In the times of Vinoo Mankad and BS Chandrasekar, Indian spinners played a vital role in England. But with six seamers and a slow-medium bowling all-rounder in the squad of 18, Dhoni must be tempted to draw his strategy around them. “It all depends upon what kind of wickets England prepare. Last time around when Australia toured, they prepared slow turning tracks. So playing a fast bowling-centric attack depends upon the pitch,” said McGrath. India seamers Varun Aaron and Ishwar Pandey are sweating it out at the nets at the MRF Pace Foundation to get valuable tips from McGrath, also known as Pigeon. “Both are good and have really improved from the time I first saw them. If given an opportunity at the beginning of the series, both have the capability to do well,” said McGrath. “My message is go and relish the challenge. It is all about bowling a fuller length and getting the ball to swing Apart from that, we will be working on minor technical adjustments to switch over from T20 format to Test cricket. Rest of the stuff is routine, but mental toughness is important,” he added. When pointed that England were a weak side without the likes of Kevin Pietersen, the legend said, “KP may not be there, but there are still some pretty good players around, so one cannot take England lightly.” In 2011, Indian batting was a failure with the exception of Rahul Dravid. Apart from him, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman have also retired. So who will be the key for India’s batting? “It is important for bowlers to have runs on the board to defend. Without runs, however packed a team may be with fast bowlers, it may not produce results. I believe Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara are quality players and have the ability to play long innings,” opined McGrath.

One among the six fast bowlers picked in the 18-man squad for the tour of England, Jharkhand speedster Varun Aaron will be the one to look forward to on English wickets. In an exclusive chat with sports.ndtv.com, Aaron opens up about the difficulty in shifting from T20s to Tests, managing injuries, on why he merits a place in the playing XI in England and a lot more. On bowling in English conditions: I am very excited to be going to England and getting a chance to bowl in those conditions. Plan is to not try too many things differently and look to do well. On one aspect of bowling he would really like to work on: I definitely want to work on my swing. It will be one of the key aspects of fast bowling in England. On experience of touring England in 2011 and the expectation this time around: The 2011 tour to England was a very good one for me. I did not play but learnt a lot from the sidelines. The opportunity to go was a blessing as I bowled well after returning to India. This year, I am not going there with any expectations as such. Just want to do my best for the country. On shifting from the T20 mode to Tests: To be honest, it is very difficult to switch off from the T20 mode and to Test-cricket mode. The biggest challenge is getting your lengths right. I need to get used to the different lengths I will be bowling in England. I am heading to the MRF Pace Academy in Chennai where I will work on this aspect. On bowling to a 'four-slip-two-gully' field: (Laughs) Why not, I would love to. On a serious note, I used to dream of that when I was 15 or 16. Now it is all about picking wickets. On a fast bowler's aggression: There is a need for fast bowlers to be aggressive but I prefer aggression in bowling. More often than not, fast bowlers get carried away and there is unnecessary aggression. I think fast bowlers need to have a control on that and concentrate on the bowling aspect. On tips from Allan Donald and Wasim Akram during IPL: (Allan) Donald and Wasim bhai were great bowlers and I look up to them. They are two different types of coaches. At KKR, Wasim bhai would give me insights into swing bowling which helped me a lot. Donald stresses more on me doing what I do best and chips in with advice wherever necessary. That has also helped me grow as a pacer. On injuries and recovery: My back has been very troublesome to be honest. But I had a surgery last year which has helped me a lot. I feel very blessed to have the kind of coaches and support staff who have backed me. BCCI, too, has been patient with my rehabilitation. Apart from that it is the support from family and friends that has helped me bounce back after an injury last year. On why he should be picked in the playing XI: I think the Indian team needs an out-and-out fast bowler at the moment and I feel I can fulfill that requirement. On the absence of a genuine leg-spinner on England tour: If Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja) is bowling well then we will not (miss a leg-spinner). There is no point in thinking what we will miss. It is better to work on doing the best with the resources we have. On preparation for the England tour: Like I said before, I am just switching over from the T20 mode. The aspect of studying the opposition and watching videos and setting personal goals will happen only a week or two before the start of the series.

http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/features/interviews/225508-i-definitely-want-to-work-on-my-swing-before-england-tour-varun-aaron

His sweat-soaked visage gleams in the evening sun. Ishwar Pandey works hard, in fact very hard on his cricket. The lanky paceman from Madhya Pradesh expects the forthcoming five-Test series in England to be a turning point in his career. Ahead of the tour, he is training full throttle at the MRF Pace Foundation here. “He has a great attitude,” said head coach at the Pace Foundation, M. Senthilnathan. Pandey said to The Hindu, “I have a natural outswinger. That should enable me pick wickets in the English conditions. Of course, I bring the occasional ball in.” Smooth run-up The tall seamer has a smooth run-up and release, can keep his concentration and discipline over long spells and consistently probe the batsman around the off-stump. The legendary Australian seamer Glenn McGrath is his idol. “He is my role model. His control over line and length was impeccable. There is so much I have learnt from him at the Foundation here.” Movement is the key Pandey is not quick but operates at around 135 kmph and moves the ball. “I do not expect the pitches in England to be as bouncy as the ones in Australia or South Africa. So movement will be the key. You could get wickets by getting the batsman to drive off the front foot and find the edges with swing.” The promising Pandey did bowl splendidly in the tour game at Whangarei during India’s campaign in New Zealand earlier this year. However, an opportunity eluded him in the five ODIs and the two Tests. Pandey will miss Zaheer Khan’s guidance in England. “In New Zealand, Zaheer bhai used to help me out a lot, like walking up to me and telling me the right length to bowl or the importance of the use of the crease.” The 24-year-old Pandey’s record in first class cricket — 131 wickets in 31 matches at 24.43 — is creditable. The belief is, he can go on to achieve much bigger things.

http://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/pandey-primed-for-bigger-things/article6123811.ece

[MCcricket]

iN Aaron, sHAMI, Pandey, pANKAJ, bHUVI WE DO HAVE A GOOD ATTACK WHICH IS INEXPERIENCED SO A CAPTAIN LIKE sAURAV WOULD DO WELL WITH THEM AND dHOBI WILL FAIL

[rkt.india]

Aaron needs to bowl quick and straight which is his strength, mixing bouncers with full balls, no nonsense bowling. No SL bowler has yet bowled over 140K consistently.

[SLICKR392]

Aaron needs to bowl quick and straight which is his strength' date=' mixing bouncers with full balls, no nonsense bowling. No SL bowler has yet bowled over 140K consistently.[/quote'] And yet they lost control with the new ball. Terrible with it. Hope our guys bowl more tightly.

[rkt.india]

And yet they lost control with the new ball. Terrible with it. Hope our guys bowl more tightly.

Eranga is the only bowler who can move tha ball and he didnt get new ball. Pradeep and Prasad cannot be new ball bowlers. They dont swing the ball much. Prasad was at BK's pace without swing. Pradeep has some pace but that is not enough alone if he cannot swing the ball. Thats not real pace, more in Anderson, Jordan range, fast medium.

[rkt.india]

There are three important things for pacers that are pace, bounce, swing. We hardly find a bowler having all 3 combination, but even two together can do wonders, but even two of them together are rare.

[tweaker]

Just hope Dhoni gives enough chance to Aaron & Pandey

[Temujin Khaghan]

nice

[kubrickian]

There are three important things for pacers that are pace' date=' bounce, swing. We hardly find a bowler having all 3 combination, but even two together can do wonders, but even two of them together are rare.[/quote'] Add hitting the right line and length along with it. You need the ability to produce pace, bounce and swing but also need to hit the right areas consistently. Otherwise, test class batsmen will just leave the balls they don't have to play and tire the bowlers out and cash in later.

[rkt.india]

Add hitting the right line and length along with it. You need the ability to produce pace' date=' bounce and swing but also need to hit the right areas consistently. Otherwise, test class batsmen will just leave the balls they don't have to play and tire the bowlers out and cash in later.[/quote'] That is a prerequisite thing.

[Vilander]

Easiest million buck ever done...after Lielie now Pigeon..pace in Chennai..:hysterical: by the time you hit the training grounds there you are half showered in sweat and not to mention the emu line right next to the wall that gives good healthy smell of open defecating of the indian railways..awesome place to train your body and soul. Bloody get a location out side the city in some nice area and develop some infra..

[Malcolm Merlyn]

Please Dhoni dont play Ishant Sharma.

[vishalvirsingh]

Easiest million buck ever done...after Lielie now Pigeon..pace in Chennai..:hysterical: by the time you hit the training grounds there you are half showered in sweat and not to mention the emu line right next to the wall that gives good healthy smell of open defecating of the indian railways..awesome place to train your body and soul. Bloody get a location out side the city in some nice area and develop some infra..

Exactly right- chennai is the tuffest place in the world for a fast bowler....

[vishalvirsingh]

Please Dhoni dont play Ishant Sharma.

IF Ishant disappoints in the first Test Match.. I beleive he will be surely dropped, Dhoni wont be able to play him in the next Test Match. But having said that Ishant will surely play the first TEST and if he picsk up 4 to 5 wickets in the TEST Match , He may be retained in the NEXT TEST. other 2 pacers - Some Say BHuvi is Certain but i think he is NOT.

[kruiser]

Ishant - Shami - AAron - Pinny - Ashwin will be the first test howlers

[TNAmarkFrmIndia]

Isn't Bhuvi in the Test squad? I reckon he'd be a shoe-in for the first XI.

[undisputed chap]

When is the 1st practice game . Just 2wks gap between the SL & India can be brutal for the english bowlers as well. .

[Vilander]

Exactly right- chennai is the tuffest place in the world for a fast bowler....

hmm some of the other cities will be hotter and as humid in summer but the point is the current location sucks, within chennai there are better locations.

[Malcolm Merlyn]

Chennai,Then known as Madras had one of the fastest pitches in the world once upon a time,after Perth and Barbados.

[Vilander]

Chennai' date='Then known as Madras had one of the fastest pitches in the world once upon a time,after Perth and Barbados.[/quote'] when mesozoic era when south india was closer to the poles ?