Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has opined that Indian bowlers should not bowl short deliveries against England’s opener Phil Salt, as he is strong in the mid-wicket region. Chopra highlighted that the fuller length deliveries, which are hitting the stumps, often put Salt under the pump.
Salt hasn’t been at his best in the ongoing T20I showpiece as he has managed only 125 runs in seven matches at an average of 17.85 and a strike rate of 158.22.
Chopra said the Wankhede pitch is like English tracks and Salt would enjoy the bounce if Indian bowlers gave him short length.
“Where does Phil Salt score his runs? He hits 36 percent of his sixes against pace in the midwicket region. He stands like a baseball player, then opens up his body, and likes hitting sixes there. You can easily hit slightly back-of-the-length deliveries there because you can trust the bounce. The English conditions are quite similar to the Wankhede, and that’s why his numbers are good in the IPL, wherever there is bounce on the pitch,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
The renowned commentator urged Indian bowlers to find the gap between Salt’s bat and pad.
“Since he doesn’t take a big step forward, a massive gap gets created between the bat and the pad. We have seen him getting out many times when the ball finishes within the three stumps. It could be slower ones or full deliveries. So find the length where the ball finishes within the stumps,” he elaborated.
Chopra said England’s other opener, Jos Buttler, scores the majority of his runs down the ground.
“It’s true that Jos Buttler hasn’t been able to score runs thus far in this tournament, but it’s the Mumbai ground, and he likes this ground. For how long can you keep that quality quiet? I would say keep it for one more match. He scores all his runs down the ground. The majority of his sixes in the powerplay have come straight. That’s why he doesn’t get out playing across the line,” he said.
The former Delhi cricketer urged the Indian bowlers to bowl a off-stump line to Jos Buttler.
“The ball doesn’t hit his stumps. So don’t bowl him there. Try to bowl to him slightly outside the off-stump. We have already seen him getting out there. He tries to hit from there, slices the ball, and gets caught at mid-off. Against Sri Lanka, we saw him getting troubled by deliveries outside the off-stump,” Chopra observed.
India will take on England in the second semifinal at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Thursday.
