Ishant Sharma’s maiden stint in county cricket has come to an end and it has been one which has been highly fruitful for the India pacer.
Turning out for Sussex, Ishant excelled in English conditions as he ended his two-month stint with 23 wickets in the County Championship Division Two and Royal London One-Day Cup. In the course of his stay, the India man also registered his maiden first-class half-century after scoring 66 runs against Leicestershire.
Still 29 years of age despite being around in international cricket for more than a decade, the lanky pacer’s Sussex stint should hold him in good stead for India’s upcoming tour of England.
With India slated to play five Tests against the Englishmen, we take a look at why Ishant can be the ace in the pack for Virat Kohli.
👏 23 wickets and a maiden first-class 50!
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) June 5, 2018
Thank you for all your efforts in a Sussex shirt, @ImIshant 🇮🇳 #gosbts pic.twitter.com/BftDB5il88
FAMILIARITY WITH CONDITIONS
One of the main reasons Kohli was desperate to turn out for Surrey in the County Championship was to gain familiarity with the seaming pitches after previously struggling in England.
While Kohli’s stint never came to fruition, Ishant’s highly impressive one could have a big impact in the five-match Test series.
Recently, Pakistan seamer Mohammad Abbas played county cricket Leicestershire in the Division Two. he then went on to shine for Pakistan in their tour of England where he picked up a four-wicket haul in each innings in the Lord’s Test to lead his side to a nine-wicket win.
Ishant will be hoping to replicate Abbas’ success when he returns to England later.
Abbas excelled in England after a recent county stint.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN ENGLAND
Ishant has already been a part of two previous Indian team tours to England in 2011 and 2014. Though his 25 wickets in seven Tests in England have come at an unremarkable average of over 40, the pacer has been unlucky to go wicket-less on many occasions despite bowling beautifully.
In 2014, he led India to only their second Test win at Lord’s in over 82 years with career-best figures of 7-74 in the second innings. That was India’s first overseas Test victory in more than three years after a disastrous run.
He will be the senior-most India pacer on the tour by all accounts and his previous experience will be invaluable for Kohli’s men.
Ishant’s 7-74 bounced England out at Lord’s in 2014.
WORKHORSE ISHANT
While his numbers after 81 Tests for India are nothing to celebrate about, Ishant has transitioned excellently from a strike-bowler in his younger days to a workhorse.
His ability to bowl consistent lengths for long spells tirelessly has made him a permanent fixture in India’s Test squad despite the emergence of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and more recently Jasprit Bumrah.
Ishant has learned the art of holding down one end and building pressure while the likes of Bhuvneshwar and Shami do the damage at the other end.
It is a role Peter Siddle performed admirably for Australia some years ago and it could just be what is needed for India when they set foot in England.
Ishant has shown the ability to tie down one end while bowling.
