Published: Oct 18, 2013, 09:14 AM (IST)
Edited: Oct 18, 2013, 09:14 AM (IST)
Craig McDermott (left) with Bret Lee. McDermott has been called back as bowling coach ahead of the 2013-14 Ashes © Getty Images
Oct 18, 2013
After the battering Australia received at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in the second One-Day International against India, Australia’s re-appointed bowling coach Craig McDermott has said that it was a deflating experience.
“It was pretty deflating to watch our bowling unit come up against three Indian batsmen who hit form on the same day and played unbelievably well. The fact that India got those runs with six-and-a-half overs to spare underlined the supremacy of the bat over ball,” McDermott was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
The bowling coach, however was concerned about bowlers being hit for runs even with two new balls. “It is a real concern because that is the only chance pacers have on flat surfaces when the ball is new. It would be interesting to see how they respond to the challenge in the remaining games,’ he added.
McDermott was in charge of working with the bowlers in the team when the Aussies had handed a 4-0 thrashing to Indian in 2011-12.
“We started our preparations two months back when Australia were touring Sri Lanka. The philosophy was simple. I am a believer in getting the ball to swing conventionally. The idea was to pitch the ball up and aim to bowl at least four deliveries in an over in the corridor of uncertainty and get it to move either way. It required discipline and perseverance, and our pacers, despite initial reservations, were prepared to be boring before reaping dividends,” he said. However, after 18 months at the helm, he stepped from the post.
McDermott on Thursday, was re-appointed as the bowling coach of Australia ahead of the return Ashes starting in November. He was not worried about the bowlers feeling discouraged after the high-scoring match.
