From a most potent weapon to a mere passenger. Sunil Narine's journey has been a rough one of late and KKR head coach Trevor Bayliss feels it will be a while before the 'rehabilitation' of the West Indian is complete
Sunil Narine and Trevor Bayliss
Kolkata: From a most potent weapon to a mere passenger. Sunil Narine's journey has been a rough one of late and KKR head coach Trevor Bayliss feels it will be a while before the 'rehabilitation' of the West Indian is complete.
Sunil Narine and Trevor Bayliss
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"Over time and under (match) pressure, the body reverts to the action it is used to," the Aussie reasoned while responding to a question on fresh frowns over Narine's bowling action, pointing out that his bowling action was "very, very good" in the first couple of matches. "It'll take a year or two to be absolutely perfect under pressure."
Narine's remodelled action went under biometric tests again at the ICC-accredited lab in Chennai on April 30 following a BCCI ban on his off-spin. It is the latest twist in a saga that goes back to last October, when match officials at the Champions League T20 first frowned upon his action.
Awaiting the results
"We're still waiting for the results. He's continuing to work on his new action, as he's done for the last three-four months," Baylis said even as Narine joined teammates at the nets yesterday.
"When we get the results we'll take some decisions." Narine bowled for about an hour, his elbows ramrod straight, but it's Brad Hogg who's in the frame at the moment. Bayliss is relieved the 44-year-old "has done a fantastic job in Narine's absence".
"We had picked him (at the February auction) as a replacement because we weren't sure what was going to happen with Sunil. We wanted a spinner who was difficult to pick, and Hogg's wrong 'uns weren't being picked at the Big Bash or at the CLT20," said Bayliss. "Hogg replacing Sunil has been a fairly easy transition."