Prasidh Krishna’s Rough Day Out in England: What Went Wrong?
Let’s Talk About It
You know how we all got excited when Prasidh Krishna burst onto the scene? That raw pace, the bounce—everyone was calling him India’s next big thing in fast bowling. But man, that England Test match was… rough. Like, really rough. The guy who usually makes batters uncomfortable suddenly looked lost out there. And that’s the thing about Test cricket in England—it doesn’t care about your reputation. Either you adapt, or it eats you alive.
Breaking Down the Numbers (Ouch)
Let’s be honest: 70+ runs without a wicket? That’s not just a bad day, that’s the kind of spell that keeps bowlers awake at night. The English batters were treating him like a net bowler—boundaries everywhere. Meanwhile, Anderson and Broad were out there putting on a masterclass with the same ball. Makes you think, doesn’t it?
Where It Fell Apart: Too many “hit me” balls. Either floating it full like a half-volley buffet or dropping it short enough for batters to rock back. Michael Atherton put it bluntly: “He looked like he was trying too hard instead of letting the conditions work for him.” Oof.
Why England Was Always Going to Be Tough
Pitch Problems: Here’s the difference—Indian pitches give you free bounce like a trampoline. England? It’s like bowling on a moody gremlin. One minute it swings, next it seams, and if you don’t read the surface, you’re toast. Prasidh kept bowling like he was in Bangalore when he needed to be in Birmingham.
One-Trick Pony: Fast and straight works until it doesn’t. Without swing or seam movement, even club batters will line you up. And international players? They’ll murder you.
Pressure Cooker: First Test in England, everyone watching, expectations sky-high—no wonder he tightened up. I’ve seen seasoned pros crumble in easier situations.
Why Pitch IQ Separates the Good from the Great
Think about Bumrah for a second. The guy bowls cross-seam wobblers in Australia, reverse swing in India, and now outswingers in England? That’s not talent—that’s homework. Jimmy Anderson’s entire career is basically a love letter to English conditions. Prasidh walked in like a guy who forgot to study for the finals.
Young Bowlers, Listen Up: If you can’t add a cutter or two to your arsenal, you’re basically bringing a knife to a gunfight overseas.
What the Experts Are Saying (And It’s Spicy)
Venkatesh Prasad Didn’t Hold Back: Called his seam position “all over the place” and honestly? He wasn’t wrong. When your wrist position looks different every ball, you’re basically rolling dice.
Dravid Playing the Long Game: “Remember Zaheer’s first tour?” he says. True, but Zaheer at least took wickets between the bad spells. Right now, Prasidh’s learning curve looks more like a cliff.
Where Does He Go From Here?
Quick Fixes: 1) Get Paras Mhambrey to rebuild that action from the ground up. 2) Beg, borrow, or steal a county cricket contract—nothing teaches English conditions like bowling 20 overs a day in Manchester drizzle.
Long Game: Either he develops a plan B (and C), or he becomes another “what could’ve been” story. The tools are there—the head and hands just need to catch up.
Final Thoughts
Look, everyone has that one nightmare series. For Prasidh, let’s hope this is his rock bottom moment before the comeback. Because here’s the truth—pace alone hasn’t been enough since the 90s. Either he evolves, or Test cricket will leave him behind. But if he cracks this? Oh man, what a story that’ll be.
Source: Navbharat Times – Default
