'Consistency is key' - Morne Morkel reveals Indian team's planning for England tour

The Indian cricket team’s preparation for the five-match Test series against England is in full swing, with bowling coach Morne Morkel shedding light on the team’s planning. Ahead of the Intra-Squad Match on June 13 between India and India A, Morkel praised the energy and professionalism shown by the squad in their sessions.

The team began its on-ground preparations on June 7, gearing up with intense training sessions. The sessions are being held not only to get the players acclimatised with the conditions but also plan against England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach. Morkel expressed his satisfaction with the intensity of the sessions and what is required to find success in England. 

"The two day practice so far, conditions suited the fast bowlers. Early on the tour is very exciting, you know it gets their confidence going, you know it was testing for the batters which also in a way helps them to prepare for what's to come. I don't think the wickets is going to be as spicy as the ones we experience here. There's been a lot of good banter between bat and ball but I think it's only because the wickets are a little bit spicy," he said in a video posted by BCCI.

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We've got a fantastic group: Morne Morkel

Notably, the pace department will play an important role in India’s campaign. With Jasprit Bumrah returning to red-ball cricket after nearly six months, Morkel emphasised the importance of easing him back through multiple spells during the practice game. Alongside Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, and Prasidh Krishna will be forming the core of India’s pace battery, while Shardul Thakur and Nitish Reddy are set to provide all-round seam options.

"As soon as the wickets go flat you know the bowlers intend to back off. So, I'm going to tell them not to only talk when the wickets are nipping around but when it's flat. That's where we're going to need the character. And now, it's just slowly building towards that first Test match. For me, the main thing - and I think it's crucial in England - is consistency. It's consistency off the field, finding your process, what's going to work for you as an individual.

"We've got a great variety in our (bowling) attack, with different skill sets. So, you know they do well and execute the basics very well. All in all, I'm very happy with the start so far. I was a little bit nervous in terms of the lack of red-ball (cricket) we've played, but seeing how the guys are moving around and training the last three days, it's a pleasing sight," he added.

This series is set to be a new era for Indian cricket with Shubman Gill taking over full-time Test captaincy and big names like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin moving on. It also kicks off India’s campaign in the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle, as they look to reach the final after missing out in the previous cycle.

The bowling coach also emphasised the energy around the group and the hunger for success.

"I think we've got a fantastic group here at the moment. There's some some quality energy in this group and that's what you need you need (going) into a Test series - confidence... Have the team spirit in the group. I think, so far, they have ve done a great job," Morkel concluded.