Practising yorkers with wet balls helped Bhuvneshwar Kumar in death overs

The first two matches of the India-England ODI series have been veritable run-feasts, both producing over 700 runs in the course of a day - not a pretty position to be in if you were a bowler. On Saturday, a day before the final match of the series, Bhuvneshwar Kumar felt that bowlers were unlikely to panic these days and could take it all in their stride

Bhuvneshwar Kumar with MS Dhoni during a practice session in Kolkata on Saturday. Pic/PTI

Kolkata: The first two matches of the India-England ODI series have been veritable run-feasts, both producing over 700 runs in the course of a day - not a pretty position to be in if you were a bowler.

On Saturday, a day before the final match of the series, Bhuvneshwar Kumar felt that bowlers were unlikely to panic these days and could take it all in their stride. "We know that 350 is a par score nowadays, and that's how we plan our practice. At team meetings, we discuss such things," said the medium-pacer.

There is, of course, a lot more than keeping calm in the face of onslaughts and delivering the best. Adding new skill sets is a demand of the times and, for seam-up bowlers like Bhuvi, it includes things like delivering yorkers with a wet ball.

"At the start of the series, we practised bowling yorkers with the wet ball," he said when asked about his toe-crushers in the death overs on Thursday despite the dew.

"These are things we have to get used to, and that comes from practice," added the 27-year-old.

Bhuvi credits IPL
He also acknowledged IPL's contribution to his impressive death-overs bowling. While Bhuvi dwelled on temperament and skills in the face of big-hitting, England's Jason Roy brought another perspective in what has essentially been a batting slugfest thus far. Despite scoring 73 and 82, in both matches, the dashing opener was left admonishing himself on Saturday. "On both occasions I needed to stay in and get big hundreds. A good start is a good start but winning games is obviously at the forefront, so I've got to be a bit disappointed to be getting out for 70 and 80."

England take positives
The 26-year-old was soon pointing at positives despite the defeats. "Although we got outplayed, we've put in some seriously good performances. We have scored 350 in the first game and 370 in the second," he said, not forgetting to remind the media that England were outdone by some outstanding "individual performances".

England's last visit to Eden, for the World T20 final in April, was a mixed bag. "Obviously, being in the finals was incredible and then the disappointment after the game," said Roy. England will be hoping to take back a win this time.

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