India in England, 2007

Nothing fancy, just the basics work in England - Cooley

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan in Chennai

June 29, 2007

'You got to make sure you maintain a full length - not half-volley but the fuller length when you're hitting the top of off' - Troy Cooley © Getty Images

Troy Cooley, Australia's bowling coach, believes that India's inexperienced seam-bowling attack could give England's batsmen a few surprises if they manage to hit the right length and generate reverse-swing in the forthcoming series. India begin the tour with just one experienced pace bowler, Zaheer Khan, but Cooley didn't think it would be a handicap.

"Nothing fancy, just the basics work wonderfully there," said Cooley, who coached England's bowlers to an Ashes triumph in 2005 before switching sides and tasting glory with Australia the next year. Currently in Chennai, coaching at the MRF Pace Academy, Cooley had a few suggestions for India's largely unheralded pace attack, including two rookie pacers in Ishant Sharma and Ranadeb Bose, ahead of their England series.

"You can't go there with any preconceived notions," Cooley told Cricinfo. "I was quite surprised when I went out there in 1988-89 [to play league cricket]. I had taken along thermal underwear and stuff, thinking it would be freezing but the summers are actually very pleasant. The wickets have changed a bit in the last five years or so - they tend to get drier. If I was to bowl there now, I'd look to see if the ball is roughing up and try to get in reverse-swing. We saw how well Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff did that in 2005.

"But reverse-swing is just the back-up option. What's critical is to practise with the new ball. Wickets at times are a little bit on the slow side, so you got to make sure you maintain a full length - not half-volley but the fuller length when you're hitting the top of off. It's what the great Glenn McGrath mastered and just take a look at his record in England and you'll know why. It's hard work, but it's the only way."

Cooley went on to list a five-step procedure to bowling in England, one which he felt would help India's bowlers trouble the opposition. "Firstly make sure the ball is in the best state for the given condition. Try traditional swing first. Otherwise restrict with the new-ball and attack with the slightly old one with reverse-swing. If that also doesn't work you'll have to try to hit the deck and aim at the top of off. If that too is not working then get a bit of seam movement into it. Cover all the bases but do it one step at a time, not randomly. First hit the good length, then grow with the conditions." India would do well to heed Cooley's advice.

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan is assistant editor of Cricinfo

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Players/Umpires

Troy Cooley

Series/Tournaments

India tour of Ireland, England and Scotland

Teams

England

India