Prasidh Krishna‘s Tough Day Out in England: What Went Wrong?
Let’s Talk About That Test Match
You know how we all got excited when Prasidh Krishna burst onto the scene? That tall, lanky fast bowler who made batsmen jump around in the shorter formats? Well, his first major Test outing in England was… rough. And I mean really rough. The guy who usually makes the ball talk suddenly looked like he’d forgotten the language. But here’s the thing—it’s not all doom and gloom. Let’s break it down.
What Makes Prasidh Special (Usually)
First off, the dude’s got serious weapons. When he’s on song:
- He’s quick—not express, but sharp enough to hurry batsmen
- That bounce! Comes from his height, makes even good balls look nasty
- Nails those awkward lengths that batters hate in limited-overs cricket
But here’s where it gets interesting. Those exact qualities that make him lethal in India? They kinda worked against him in England. Funny how that happens.
The England Disaster Class
Man, that Test was hard to watch if you’re a Prasidh fan. He was going at nearly 5 runs an over—that’s T20 territory. And the wickets? Nowhere to be found. Remember that spell on Day 2? 30 runs in 5 overs while England’s batters treated him like a net bowler. Ouch.
The English guys weren’t even troubled by his usual tricks. That steep bounce they love to avoid in India? They were either cutting it or riding the bounce like surfers. Total mismatch.
Why His Usual Tricks Didn’t Work
Let me put it this way—it’s like bringing a samosa to a tea party. Delicious, but wrong context. Three big issues:
- No swing: His wrist position was too stiff, ball just wasn’t moving
- Too short too often: In England, you’ve got to pitch it up. He didn’t
- Misread the pitch completely: Kept bowling like it was Bangalore when it was Manchester
Nasser Hussain nailed it in commentary: “Tall fast bowlers need to intimidate, but in England, you let the pitch do the talking first.” Prasidh didn’t get the memo.
What He Can Learn From Others
Now, I’m not saying he’s finished. Far from it. Look at Ishant Sharma—got hammered in England in 2014, came back a completely different bowler. Or Shami, who makes the ball dance even when there’s nothing in the pitch.
The difference? Those guys developed plan B, C, and D when plan A failed. Prasidh kept trying plan A all day. That never works in Test cricket.
How He Bounces Back
Here’s what I think he needs to do:
- Work with a swing specialist: That wrist position needs fixing ASAP
- Play some county cricket: Nothing teaches you English conditions like getting smacked around in April at Durham
- Balance that schedule: Can’t be bowling 4 overs in IPL and expect to last 20 in Tests
Final Thoughts
Look, everyone has bad days. Even Kohli looked clueless in England before he figured it out. Prasidh’s got the tools—he just needs to add a few more to the toolbox. Test cricket’s brutal like that. Either adapt, or get found out.
But here’s the good news: the best fast bowlers often learn more from their worst days than their best. If Prasidh’s smart, this England nightmare might just be the making of him.
Source: Navbharat Times – Default
