England could have scored more, it was easy to play spinners: Umesh Yadav

Indian pacer Umesh Yadav looked lethal on the opening day of the third Test at Mohali. He got the first breakthrough for India in the first session. An unplayable ball from him saw Haseeb Hameed glove the ball to gully and fetched him his first wicket. Later in the day, Yadav sent the Woakes’ off stump for a turn and bagged his second wicket of the day. The late strike gave a perfect ending to the day for India.

India largely dominated the proceedings on the day one of the Test. With England finishing on 268 for 8 on the day, India took the honours despite Jonny Bairstow’s fighting 89. Speaking to the PTI after the match, Umesh Yadav spoke about the day’s play and his own performance.

Commenting on the English score, Yadav felt that the visitors missed the trick. He hinted that there was not much turn in the wicket and hence they could have scored more on the day. He added that wicket did not change much during the course of the day.

“I think it could have been better as the spinners are not getting enough turn. It’s easy to play spinners. It’s okay but they could have got more. The wicket hasn’t changed much. Some balls may have gone up and down but I think the pace of the wicket is same,” quoted Umesh Yadav.

Both pacer Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav bowled fiery spells up front. However, they were unlucky to see catches being dropped off their bowling by R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Commenting on the dropped catches, Umesh remarked that these are part and parcel of the game. On some days, the fielders reward the bowlers with brilliant efforts and drop sitters on other days.

“In cricket, it happens. Teammates will take brilliant catches and drop some easy ones. It’s part and parcel of the game. You can’t be disappointed as you have to try and create more chances. In cricket, you can’t grab every catch that comes your way. We have some of the best fielders in our side and it happens with all teams,” quoted the Indian pacer.

He bowled really well with Shami in tandem. He mentioned that the wicket and swing do not necessarily interdepend on another. He added that he and Shami knew that they can get the ball swing till the shine is there.

“It’s not that if the wicket is flat, the new ball won’t swing. If you have the belief, you can swing the new ball. Shami and I knew that we can swing it till the ball remains new. We were trying to bowl outside off-stump channel from where we were bowling the outswingers as there was good carry and pace off the pitch,” he quoted.

“It’s a bit difficult when the ball gets old as you won’t get pace and carry with the ball getting soft. But there is still something in the wicket. It’s a bit cold and there’s some moisture in the wicket. The ball is moving,” he added further.

Inspecting his own performances, the Vidarbha pacer said that he has put in a lot of effort with the coaches. He rightly knows that with the pace he generates, he needs to stay consistent with lines.

“I am improving day-by-day with more matches that I am playing. I talk to my coaches Anil bhai (Kumble) and Sanjay bhai (Bangar). Pace comes with a disadvantage. If you don’t pitch it right, you will go for runs. They advise me to bowl in one particular area. My impact area is outside the off-stump from where I can bowl my outswingers and make the batsmen play a lot more,” he conceded.