Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Morkel warns India seamers: ball soft after 25-30 overs
India's cricket team is getting ready to play a big match series in Sri Lanka.
The bowling coach's name is Morne Morkel, and he talked to the fast bowlers.
He warned them that the cricket ball gets soft after about 25 to 30 overs.
A soft ball is harder to bowl fast with, so the bowlers need new tricks.
He also said the weather in Sri Lanka is very hot and sticky.
That makes bowling even harder.
One of India's best bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah, cannot play because his knee is hurt.
Mohammed Siraj is now the most experienced fast bowler on the team.
Some newer bowlers like Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar and Auqib Nabi will help out.
Morkel believes the team has the skills, but they must stay strong and creative to win.
India's bowling coach Morne Morkel warned the team's seamers that the Kookaburra ball goes soft after 25-30 overs in Sri Lanka.
The two-Test series against Sri Lanka begins Saturday in Galle.
Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the series due to a knee injury.
Mohammed Siraj is the most experienced seamer, with Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar and Auqib Nabi as the other options.
Morkel said heat and humidity are the biggest challenges, and seamers must maintain intensity and create pressure.
- Who
- India's bowling coach Morne Morkel, who addressed a seam attack led by Mohammed Siraj after Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out.
- What
- Morkel warned India's seamers to adapt to Sri Lanka's heat, humidity and the Kookaburra ball going soft after 25-30 overs.
- When
- The series commences on Saturday.
- Where
- Galle, Sri Lanka.
- Why
- The conditions will test the seamers' ability to adjust their plans once the ball loses its hardness.
- Event
- Two-Test series between India and Sri Lanka
- Series start
- Saturday
- Venue
- Galle
- Ruled out
- Jasprit Bumrah (knee injury)
- Most experienced seamer
- Mohammed Siraj
- Other seamers
- Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Auqib Nabi
- Ball type
- Kookaburra
- Ball softens
- After 25-30 overs