India’s bowlers have left England seven wickets short of an improbable 608-run chase, closing day four of the second Test with the hosts 121 for 3. The effort came without the injured Jasprit Bumrah, a point not lost on bowling coach Morne Morkel.
“Very, very happy so far,” Morkel said. “We had a deep or good discussion after the last Test in terms of areas we want to improve on, and I think we’ve done that. So that’s a pleasing sign from a growing bowling attack, missing one of their most experienced players so they can react to those sort of things.”
Key facts first
• Siraj and Akash Deep have shared 13 wickets in the match.
• England need 487 more runs; India require seven wickets.
• The new ball has moved; the old one has turned sponge-soft.
Siraj finally picked up a five-for in England, something he missed even on the greener pitches of last season’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He managed it on what has arguably been India’s flattest surface of the tour, conceding just 92 runs in the process. Morkel reckons the haul rewards months of disciplined work.
“Siraj is a guy that I’ve got a lot of respect for,” Morkel said. “He’s a guy that always will push his body to the limits. I think sometimes the guilty part of him is trying too hard so for us. It’s about managing that sort of aggression and managing that intensity because he really bowls with his heart on his sleeve. I think sometimes those sort of things can give you that inconsistency.
“In a match that he’s now the leader of the attack, he got the wickets, but for me in terms of effort and energy and with a sore body, he’s always done and will put his hand up, and he wants to bowl that over. I don’t think sometimes we give him enough credit for that.”
Enter Akash Deep
The uncapped-until-last-week seamer has offered a contrast: straighter lines, lively pace, minimal fuss. On a surface that flattered the batters once the lacquer disappeared, his stump-to-stump approach proved priceless.
“He is an attacking bowler that asks questions, bowling at the stumps a lot,” Morkel said. “I think that’s one of the golden rules here in England: asking questions on the stumps. So for these sort of conditions in the UK, it suits his style. And coming back from injury and seeing him running in with high pace, it’s a nice sign for us.
“That was a dream delivery… top quality player Joe Root and to dismiss him in that fashion just shows the quality of Akash, what he can do. I think he is also a guy like all of us. The more confidence you give him, almost like there’s a little bit more energy behind the ball and hopefully that delivery he will play over in his phone tonight, and then bring a couple more of those tomorrow.”
Technical test ahead
The problem, as Morkel reminded, is that the Duke’s ball goes soft early at Headingley. Once the shine fades, cutters stop gripping and seam movement drops. “Your skill really gets tested on a surface like that,” he said. “The margin for error is a lot smaller. Obviously, that’s nipping around a little bit now, but it’s going to be a challenge for us tomorrow.”
India flirted with the bouncer plan in England’s first innings, telegraphing short balls in search of a mistake. The coach feels day five calls for a tighter, more traditional method—fuller lengths aimed at the stumps, with the odd surprise bumper rather than a barrage. A fired-up Siraj and a confident Akash Deep will shoulder the bulk of the overs; support from all-rounder Shardul Thakur and the spinners could prove decisive once the ball ages.
Quiet confidence, no headlines
The narrative remains simple: England must script their highest chase by a distance, while India carry the comfort of scoreboard pressure—yet still need to take every chance on a surface that turns benign after 30 overs. Morkel’s message was pragmatic, not triumphant.
“We know England bat deep, and the pitch isn’t breaking up,” he admitted while gathering stumps at close. “But we’ve put ourselves in a strong position. Now it’s about being relentless for two more sessions.”
No fireworks in that quote, just a clear brief. It sums up India’s task and the tone of a coach who, for all his praise, refuses to think the job is already done.
