Zaheer Khan’s guidance crucial during matches, says Umesh Yadav

Indian fast bowler Umesh Yadav feels on slow wickets like the one in the first Test, the fast bowlers had to stick to a disciplined line © AFP

By CricketCountry Staff

Add Cricket Country as a Preferred Source

 

Hyderabad: Aug 27, 2012

 

Indian pace sensation Umesh Yadav has credited Zaheer Khan for guiding youngsters in the team during the course of a match.

 

He said,”This is just the beginning of my career and I take every match as an opportunity to learn something new. That’s where Zaheer Bhai is a big help.

 

“For example, when the ball is not doing anything in the air or off the surface, when there’s no reverse swing, it gets difficult as a fast bowler. If you bowl too full, you go for runs and the same happens if you err on the shorter side. That’s when Zaheer Bhai comes in and tells me what the right length to bowl is.”

 

Umesh feels on slow wickets like the one in the first Test, the fast bowlers had to stick to a disciplined line.

 

Umesh was quoted by BCCI’s official website as saying, “The wicket was not turning that much. Our spinners worked really hard for their wickets. But yes, when bowling on such slow and low wickets, we just try to keep pitching the ball on one side of the wicket consistently.

 

“That’s what Zaheer bhai and I did – we just kept bowling the same line and our spinners did the rest of the job.”

 

The Vidarbha fast bowler feels the tour to Australia was a learning curve for him.

 

“I was very happy to be going to Australia. It’s a dream of every fast bowler to bowl on Australian wickets,” he said. “As a team, we didn’t do too well but when I returned home, the only thing I kept in mind was to keep up with the way I bowled there and keep improving on it every day.”

 

Umesh reveals that he shares a good rapport with fellow fast bowler Ishant Sharma.

 

He said,” We don’t talk about who will be selected in the playing XI. In this series, Ishant is coming after recovering from a surgery.

 

” If that wasn’t the case, surely he would’ve been the first choice since he is more experienced than me. When I’m playing, he keeps giving me feedback about my bowling if he feels I’m doing something wrong. We share a very good relationship.”