Harshal last played in Australia in 2009 during India’s Under-19 tour. Now, as they gear up for India’s T20 World Cup campaign, the pair will try to learn with enthusiasm at the same time.
“I was really looking forward to coming here and participating in the first practice session,” Suryakumar Yadav told the BCCI website on Sunday. “Just to get on the field, to take a walk, to run and feel what it’s like here. The first net session was really amazing.
“Obviously there was some butterflies and a lot of enthusiasm, but at the same time you have to see how you put yourself in that environment and how you reach the summit at the right time. Yes, there is enthusiasm but following the procedures Also important. And the routine.”
The Indian team will play two warm-up matches against the Western Australia XI at the WACA ground, the venue of their training session, starting Monday. Since arriving on 6 October, along with India’s net bowling contingent, the 14-member sports contingent had a day off to recuperate and two skill-based training sessions have been conducted since then.
Suryakumar Yadav, currently number 2 among T20I batsmen in the ICC rankings, is looking to start “slightly slower”. Most important on their checklist is to keep pace with the pace and bounce and adopt ground dimensions much larger than what they are used to in India.
Suryakumar is coming off a great domestic season and the Asia Cup. In the home T20I series against South Africa, he was the highest run-scorer in both sides, scoring 119 runs in three innings.
Regarding playing in Australia, he said, “I just wanted to see what the pace and bounce of the wicket is, so I am starting a little slow.” “The dimensions of the ground, people say the grounds are huge, so it’s important to prepare your game plan [accordingly], how you’re going to score runs, all these things are important. It’s cold here, but otherwise the conditions are mostly the same. It’s India. I’m really looking forward to it.
In an interview with ESPNcricinfo in August, Herschel explained how the prospect of playing on larger grounds prompted him to work on subtle changes to the length of his slower variations.
“I’ve done a little research in terms of the length I can bowl with a slower ball,” he said. “Usually when I bowl slower balls, it is mainly fuller or good lengths. But now I have started bowling shorter and slower deliveries, which are working very well for me.
After two training sessions in Australia, Herschel believes it is important to improve gradually. “It’s obviously quite cold,” he said. “We are slowly getting used to. The atmosphere with the team is wonderful and we are looking forward to building up to the first game [against Pakistan in Melbourne on October 23]. In these two weeks, the idea is to adapt to the weather. And according to the skill, adapt quickly and by the time our first game comes we should be in our peak physical and mental condition.”