- 16 hours ago
Here's the full transcript of Morne Morkel's press conference before India vs England semifinal in Mumbai.
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00:00If you can talk about the session with Varun, obviously there was a lot of conversation between the session.
00:05What was that all about and how is he geared up for the semi-final?
00:10It's just a normal routine session with Varun.
00:13He really enjoys just to have a single wicket practice a day before the game.
00:17Where he can mentally just go through his process.
00:20I mean, the conversations we've had is just about sort of clarity and for him just to walk away feeling
00:28good about his bowling.
00:30Coach, the team had a lengthy session yesterday, but there are news reports going on that that session was delayed
00:37by one hour due to superstition lunar eclipse.
00:39Is there any truth to it if you can explain?
00:42Look, I mean, I was told about the lunar eclipse and, you know, the session was pushed backwards.
00:48But I think the most important thing to focus on was the quality the guys put in at hours with
00:55the train, which was great to see.
00:58Marni, hi.
00:59Just wanted to check, India also hasn't had the perfect game coming into the semi-final, just like England.
01:06So what have the conversations been like in the team leading up to the big semi-final, India versus England?
01:11Yeah, I mean, for us, you know, that is something we haven't really spoken about, about the perfect game.
01:18I think the quality of this team has been shown that, you know, on the day, somebody can put their
01:25hand up and put up a performance.
01:27And then hopefully now in the last two games, especially now tomorrow night, we can put that special performance in.
01:33You know, all we can do is work hard at training.
01:38Unfortunately, you know, we all know the game, how the game goes, that success is never guaranteed.
01:43But if we can get ourselves, give ourselves the best chance to go out and perform, you know, that is
01:48what we strive for.
01:49And a big occasion tomorrow night here, semi-final, you know, a great stadium to play a game of cricket.
01:57So hopefully the boys can rock up tomorrow and just be calm and execute those skills.
02:03The pitcher for the first match against USA, we had a tricky one.
02:08So how does this look and are you prepared for a kind of a different approach for this?
02:16Yeah, to be honest, we're not quite sure a day out how the wicket is going to play.
02:22I'm pretty sure you experience walking here, it's a lot hotter all of a sudden in India.
02:28So in terms of moisture and keeping the, giving the wicket, allowing the wicket not to dry out, I think
02:33it's going to be key or for it to play well.
02:36So again, that's something that we can't control.
02:39Obviously, we try and keep our bases covered as best as possible.
02:44You know, team selection will go in terms of what do we see on game day.
02:49And then from there, we just need to be smart in our skills, reading the conditions and adapting to it.
02:55You know, yes, plan A is you go in with some sort of idea, but the key is to find
03:00that skill of how to play on the wicket on a specific night.
03:04I mean, it's something we can't control.
03:07You always highlighted about the dependency factor, not to be dependent on one or two bowlers in a tournament like
03:14this, in a World Cup like this.
03:16But in the last few, since the Pakistan game, Indian bowlers have conceded more than 175 runs in each innings.
03:23So, and Varun, obviously, he hadn't had the best games.
03:26So, do you think that there is a little bit of reliance on Varun?
03:31Because opponents like, with due respect to Netherlands and Zimbabwe, they have also got runs against our spinners and the
03:37rest of the bowlers.
03:38Yeah, they're good teams.
03:39You know, if you look at the scores in the World Cup and the surfaces, it's good.
03:43It's, you know, it's been good wickets.
03:45So, I don't know if you expect us to bowl every team out for 120, 150.
03:52You know, we're in the semifinal and we've won games of cricket.
03:55And the guys have done well.
03:57There's a times where I can remember we had Rinku and Talak bowling in certain games.
04:02Booms and those guys not bowling their full quota.
04:05So, yeah, I think, you know, for us, it's not how you get to the semifinals.
04:10It's the next couple of, you know, two games, how we're going to play that.
04:14And players, they play well.
04:16We know the margins are small in this, in India, bowling especially.
04:20So, yeah, I don't read too much into that.
04:23Hi, Marnie.
04:24The last time the two teams played here, India won by 150 runs.
04:28I know bilateral dead rubber is a bit different to a T20 World Cup semifinal.
04:32But can you just touch upon the differences England have made in the 13 months since you last played them
04:38in a T20 series to now?
04:40Yeah, I think, you know, playing against England, they, a team that's street smart.
04:45Obviously, there's a lot of quality in their side, you know, batting quite long, deep, which makes them a very
04:52dangerous side.
04:53And then, you know, with the ball also, yeah, they've got wicked taking options.
04:58I think the way they approach the T20 game, you know, fearless, trying to take the game on, will give
05:06you opportunities and makes them a dangerous side.
05:08So, I feel tomorrow is going to be a good shootout between two aggressive teams.
05:12And, you know, the side that can hold their nerves and play the conditions and read some of the conditions
05:16quite well and the quickest, I reckon will come out on top.
05:21Marnie, third T20 World Cup semifinal in a row against England.
05:25So, what learnings can you take from the previous games?
05:28So, one, you have won and the other one lost in 2022.
05:31And also, the areas that you need to work upon apart from the catching ones.
05:36Obviously, fielding is something that we speak about a lot.
05:41You know, that I think at times we're guilty, if we're honest, of giving away maybe 15, 20 runs in
05:47the field.
05:48So, that's one thing, one aspect that we keep on working hard and, you know, asking the guys to really
05:54step up on.
05:55And then, yeah, in terms of learnings, you know, there's always learnings and growth that we take.
06:00But, especially looking at this game here, we don't want to overanalyze too much of the past and, you know,
06:09games played.
06:09I think for us, it's just, again, you know, focusing on what we've got in front of us.
06:14And we have to be at our best tomorrow to beat England.
06:18Hi, Moni.
06:19What's your reading about this beach which looks pretty green at the moment?
06:23And do you expect it to remain the same?
06:25Yeah, like I said, you know, I'll probably have a better indication in terms of what the surface is going
06:31to play like tomorrow.
06:34At the moment, because of the heat, they have given it, you know, a little bit of water.
06:39So, it's quite soft.
06:40So, it's quite hard to get a proper 100% accurate read on it.
06:45But are we expecting it to be a good wicket, high-scoring game?
06:50You know, we're preparing ourselves for, you know, tough conditions.
06:56And then, from there, we will assess.
06:58But, yeah, so I think if you go in with a mindset that it's going to be a high-scoring
07:01game and we need to be up at the standard,
07:05that's a good place to be at.
07:07Moni, of course, you have played a lot of cricket here at this venue and seen the other teams play
07:12and India play here.
07:13What are the real challenges which come along when you play at a venue like Vankhadeh?
07:17Dew, the Seabreeze, the pitch offering assistance to batters, a high-scoring venue.
07:22So, what are the challenges like and how do you kind of prepare our match-ups and tactical calls venue
07:27specific-wise?
07:28So, what are those conversations like when you prepare for a game at a venue like Vankhadeh?
07:33Look, I think Dew is always a big concern.
07:38You know, but that's, again, something you can't control the toss.
07:42I think, yeah, at Vankhadeh, there's always that extra bit of bounce.
07:47You know, guys can trust the bounce and it through the line.
07:50But in saying that, that can also, you know, as a bowler, bring you into the game.
07:55Yeah, I just felt or feel that, you know, the margins here is a lot smaller.
08:00The ball travels.
08:01It's quite a small ground.
08:03So, yeah, you just need to be, you need to be really, like, fighting that over, stay in the moment
08:10and compete every ball.
08:11Because, like I said, a batter's strength can also be his weakness in the surface.
08:15So, it's sometimes not to go too defensive and keep on attacking because opportunities can come.
08:22Coach, Indian team was struggling with two left-handers in the opening and then Sanju came in Chennai and in
08:30Kolkata we saw what he did.
08:32What was the conversation with Sanju Sampson before that game?
08:36How did you guys give him confidence?
08:39And second part is, how important will be the toss in this game?
08:43Yeah, I mean, toss will be, obviously, if there's due, that will be important.
08:49Coming back to Sanju, quality player.
08:53I don't think there was a lot of, I say I don't think, but there was not a lot of
08:58conversation.
08:59He's a guy that always works hard at the Nets.
09:03And, yeah, I think just that sort of opportunity he got given, he showed his class and his experience.
09:10He got the opportunity and as a guy that's played a lot of games, he stepped up in a crucial
09:15game.
09:17From a coaching or from the mentor sort of side, it was just about, you know, giving him the backing.
09:24Although, you know, he sort of lost his place in the team, for him it is always to, at Nets,
09:29to make sure he gets the quality work in
09:31because you never know in a tournament that, you know, situation like we found ourselves can always be there.
09:37So, credit to him, you know, for not losing that hope.
09:40Keep on working hard, keep on grooving on his strengths and then taking the opportunity.
09:45I think in professional sport, it's all about staying ready so you don't have to get yourself ready, I can
09:51say that.
09:51And, yeah, credit to him for keeping him calm and fighting through that tough little period and putting in a
09:57solid performance for India.
10:00Coach, what is your assessment in terms of confidence with Abhishek Sharma?
10:04He's trying to kind of alter his approach in the middle.
10:08Earlier he would go very aggressive at the start.
10:10Now he's trying to kind of hold back a little and then look to attack.
10:14And at the same time he's kind of dropped catches as well.
10:17So, is it really a case of some sort of loss in confidence?
10:21No, I think just sometimes this game can be hard on you, cruel on you.
10:27Similar situation that Sanju found himself in that, you know, in your career you're going to find, you know, moments
10:36like this.
10:36And this is good growth for him.
10:38It's good learning for him, you know, for a young sort of guy finding his feet in international cricket.
10:43This will only help him down the line and for Indian cricket.
10:47But coming back to his form, you know, Abhishek, his way of playing is, you know, it's one or two
10:54shots that can find him that rhythm, that can give him that confidence back.
10:59And that, for me, is a pleasing sign.
11:02He's not a guy that worries too much about technique.
11:05Normally those sort of players take a lot more time to get into confidence.
11:09So, like I said, it's a fresh page for him tomorrow.
11:13Opportunity to go and do well.
11:14Scored 100-year against England not so long ago.
11:17So, for him, it's just tapping into those and those little videos and looking at his feel-good moments and
11:23building a blueprint and knowing he's starting on zero tomorrow.
11:26It's a new opportunity for him and, you know, for him to make a play.
11:31Coach, you had an extensive session with, I mean, last year you worked a lot with Shivam Dube and yesterday
11:37also you worked with, you know, Hardik quite a lot.
11:40But both of them sort of seem to have lost their bowling form.
11:43Is there bowling form a bit of a concern?
11:45I mean, Shivam Dube went for, I think, 0-46 against Zimbabwe in two overs.
11:49Yeah.
11:50Look, I don't think it's a loss of bowling form.
11:54You know, I think Shivam is also a guy that knows the game pretty well.
11:58At times, you know, our execution wasn't as great.
12:04Maybe thinking, the thinking behind bowling the ball.
12:07But in terms of form and bowling, you know, Shivam is a guy that's always going to give us potentially
12:14over a two.
12:16And then for him, the most important thing is just to make smart decisions, you know, with the ball.
12:21So, I think that's one area we would like to improve with him sometimes is just his ball execution.
12:27Because, let's be honest, you know, teams are going to go after him.
12:29He's going to be the guy that's going to be put under pressure, which gives us opportunities, you know, to
12:35take wickets.
12:36So, if we can get that thinking process with ball on hand a little bit better, a little bit smarter,
12:42that will be a good one.
12:44Mani, you've obviously worked closely with Varun now.
12:47What sort of bowling mindset did he come with?
12:49You know, when there are games, when he goes for some expensive overs, which can happen in this format, what
12:54does he go back to?
12:55Does he try to add layers to his bowling?
12:57Does he rely on sort of planning in terms of match-ups for the next game?
13:00How does it work?
13:01It's a tricky question to answer here now.
13:04I mean, obviously, I can't reveal his process, but I keep on telling him that in our bowling lineup, you
13:11know, with the skill and variation Varun's got, he's got the ability to take a wicket, you know, almost every
13:18ball.
13:18So, if the boundary or if he goes for a boundary or the ball, you know, he's not executed as
13:26well as possible, for him it's just to move on to the next one and make sure he commits to
13:31that next ball.
13:31I think, you know, he's a highly skillful guy, hard to pick once you walk into the crease.
13:36So, for him, it's just about getting that confidence with the ball, getting his speed, his length, control right and
13:43not trying to overthink it.
13:44I think with Varun at times, you know, to his credit, he wants to be a big performer for the
13:49team.
13:50So, he will put a little bit of pressure on himself, but, yeah, he's a match winner for us and
13:56for him it's just to stay and bowl every ball and make sure it's his best ball.
14:02Manu, you spoke about 15 runs conceded in the field.
14:06India's dropped 13 catches in this tournament.
14:09It's a problem that's been accompanying us for a long time in England in the Test Series at the Asia
14:13Cup as well.
14:14How much does it pull a side down when you put down as many catches as you do?
14:19Obviously, I mean, nobody will look to drop a catch on purpose.
14:23Like, we, it's not like we don't train it.
14:26I mean, there's a lot of focus going into our fielding and that was one of the key points heading
14:31into the World Cup here.
14:32So, the guys do train and work hard on our fielding.
14:37You know, at times, is it a mindset thing?
14:40You know, I can't answer that.
14:42But, yeah, like I said, you know, for us it's just to keep on doing the hard work, really focusing
14:48on specific, getting certain players into the hot spots and the right areas.
14:53And, you know, at times it's hard to do that because you're also working against an overrate.
14:58So, that's the responsibility that the players need to take on the field is to, you know, find yourself in
15:04a position in the hot zones and to work a little bit extra.
15:08And, if we can get the right players in those positions, you know, hopefully we can take the catches.
15:42Yeah, I think that has been the identity of this team.
15:49You know, we are a young, exciting group that wants to play entertaining cricket.
15:55Fans pay money to come and watch these guys, you know, do their thing.
16:01And, what a way or what a mindset to have to go into a game where you think it's a
16:06high-pressure game.
16:07But, if you can simplify it and say, listen, if we play our attacking, entertaining brand, you know, the rest
16:12will fall into place.
16:13So, I thought it was a great message from Arrik that's when they, at their best, is when, you know,
16:19there is sort of not a lot thinking about the moment, but just going out and be entertainers.
16:25You know, you know, I think that is one way to free yourself up as a player and to take
16:31the game on.
16:32You know, we said earlier that both teams are going to look to do that.
16:36So, I think, yeah, that's good for the fans.
16:38It's good for all of us if they play that attacking, aggressive, entertaining game.
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