India’s Test specialist Hanuma Vihari has shared his insights on how to play the Dukes ball in England. The middle-order batsman feels playing the ball late and close to the line can help India enjoy success in the United Kingdom (UK).
Vihari, who represented Warwickshire in the English county this season, spoke about the challenges of adapting to conditions in England
“The overhead conditions play a part as well because when it is sunny, it gets a bit easier to bat, but when it is overcast, the ball moves all day. That was the challenge I faced early on in this season of county cricket -- because it was quite cold and the ball was doing a lot off the wicket," the 27-year-old batsman told ESPNCricinfo.
In his first ever game for Warwickshire this season, Vihari was dismissed for a duck by England’s Test spearhead Stuart Broad. Although the Andhra Pradesh cricketer has scored only one fifty in three matches, he is keen on learning from his mistakes
"I thought it was full enough for me to drive, but again, in England you have to be really certain with your shot selection. If I were to play that ball a second time, I would try to play [it] as late as possible,” Vihari said.
Earlier this year, Vihari’s dogged batting on the last day of the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) was vital in helping India salvage a draw against Australia.
Unfortunately for Vihari, he was sidelined with a hamstring injury after the match, which forced him to miss the final Test in Brisbane. Later, he also missed the Tests at home against England.
At the moment, Vihari is back in the Indian Test side to take on New Zealand in the World Test Championship (WTC) final and the five-match Test series against England later in the summer.
Featured Image: AFP/ Saeed Khan
