India vs England 2021: Unlikely to see reverse swing because of plastic-like coat on pink ball, reckons James Anderson ahead of the third Test match
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Team England’s ace pacer James Anderson talked about the issues while playing with the pink ball ahead of the third Test in Ahmedabad. Anderson emphasized that the pink ball might not see the reverse swing as is the case with the red ball.
The lanky England pacer was instrumental in attracting the win to England’s stride during the first Test match against India in Chennai.
‘Pink ball feels a bit more plastic,’ says James Anderson
The 38-year-old pacer talked about his experience playing with the pink ball and said that the extra gloss and polish on the pink ball gives a plastic-like coating, unlike the red ball that feels like a leather surface.
“It doesn’t feel a lot different [to other brands of pink ball]. “What we have found with all the pink balls, it seems like they have an extra bit of lacquer on them so it feels a bit more plastic, the coating, rather than on the red ball where you can feel the leather,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Anderson as saying.
“It feels very similar to the Dukes in the hand. I think we will be unlikely to see reverse. It depends on the pitch – if the pitch is really abrasive you might see a bit of reverse, but from how we’ve bowled it in the nets I would be very surprised if it does reverse,” he further said.
Anderson opined that with the varnish type coat, the ball might stay a bit harder. “It may well stay a bit harder for longer. We’ll have to wait and see how it reacts after 40-50 overs,” Anderson, who missed the second Test, added.
After the teams touched Ahmedabad for the upcoming day-night Test at Motera Stadium on Thursday, players are practicing hard with the pink ball.
We will bowl as per the conditions, says Anderson
On being enquired of the special plans with the pink ball, Anderson said that they would execute things much like they do with the red ball.
“I don’t think we’ll bowl any differently to how we normally bowl with the red ball. We’ll be assessing conditions as we do and bowl accordingly. If it’s swinging around we’ll be more attacking, bowl a fuller length, have extra catchers in. If not, we’ll go a little bit more defensive,” said Anderson.
“It’s all about assessing the conditions. We’ve got a couple of balls that are really old we’ve been practising with that are doing absolutely nothing and I think it’s important we do that because you still need the option of taking wickets when it’s not swinging around,” he added.
The Test series between the two sides stands 1-1. Players are toiling hard for the upcoming third Test in Motera, whose action will get under-the-way from 23 February.
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Sahil Sethi
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