England bowling coach, David Saker, admits the pressure is on Stuart Broad to prove he is worth his place in the third Test ahead of fit-again Steven Finn.
Broad was off-colour and wicketless in England’s famous series-levelling victory over India at the Wankhede Stadium, and Finn made life even more difficult for the vice-captain by demonstrating his well-being after almost a month out with a thigh strain by taking four wickets for the EPP.
Saker was candid in his appraisal of Broad’s current form, and Finn’s credentials to replace him at Eden Gardens next week – with England sure to field only two pace bowlers after the success of spinners Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann in the second Test. Asked what Broad must do to regain his best form, Saker said: “He needs to front up and find out what’s the best way to go about it over here. “If he comes back to this part of the world, which he has a good chance of doing, he’s got to find ways of surviving here.
“The great fast bowlers have had success here, so you don’t just say the fast bowlers are going to have no influence. “A defeatist attitude like that is not accepted.”
As befits his job description, Saker will do all he can to help Broad. “He’s finding it tough, no doubt,” he added. “Bowling fast over here isn’t easy, and you have to find a way to survive. “The really great bowlers always have. “He’s learning it the hard way at the moment, and it’s probably not going the way he’d like it to go.” Broad passed himself fit to take part in Mumbai, despite struggling with a virus on the eve of the match. But he went on to tweet yesterday (Tuesday) that he had lost five kilos in a week, suggesting he was still struggling.
Saker added: “I think he had a little bit of an illness, but once you cross the line you’re 100%. “His performance wasn’t up to scratch, but that happens over here. “This place can really dent your confidence quickly. “As a fast bowler, you want to see a few balls zinging through to the wicketkeeper – and it’s hard to do that at times. “He’s finding that difficult but it’s something he will learn from and, we hope, become a better bowler for it.” The remedy, Saker senses, is to keep things as simple as possible. He said: “I just think he’s…finding it really difficult to get his head around maybe changing the way he bowls.
