'Not too much to judge in that, but...' - Morne Morkel reflects on India's performance with ball on Day 3 of ongoing ENG vs IND 4th Test

India endured a tough outing on Day 3 of the ongoing Test at Old Trafford, Manchester, as they were made to field throughout the day. After being bowled out for 358 in their first innings, the visitors struggled to contain a dominant England batting line-up. By stumps, England had posted a mammoth 544/7, taking a commanding lead of 186 runs. With the hosts expected to bat further on Day 4, India’s bowlers will face another stern test. The lack of breakthroughs and mounting pressure have left the team on the back foot heading into the penultimate day.

Following the day's play, India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel addressed the media and admitted concerns over the team’s bowling performance. He noted a clear lack of energy and bite among the pace attack and pointed out a significant dip in speed and intensity from the fast bowlers. Morkel acknowledged that the Indian seamers failed to generate the kind of pressure needed on a pitch that didn’t offer much assistance. He emphasized the need for improved rhythm and sharper execution as India looks to bounce back in the remainder of the match.

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"We are trying to wrap our heads around it. Not too much to judge in that, but it was a heavy outfield. But we need energy on the ball on a surface like this," India's bowling coach told reporters at the end of day's play on day 3.

We were much better today with the ball: Morne Morkel

The dip in Jasprit Bumrah's pace has become a worrying trend for India in the ongoing Test. At Headingley, 39.84% of his deliveries crossed the 140 kmph mark, while at Lord's, it was 26.84%. However, at Old Trafford, only one of his 173 deliveries (including no-balls) exceeded that speed, just 0.57%. This sharp decline reflects the fatigue or possible fitness concerns plaguing India’s pace spearhead. As the team heads into Day 4, Bumrah’s lack of pace and penetration could pose a serious threat to their chances of bouncing back in the match.

India's bowling unit struggled to make inroads on Day 3, as England ended with a massive 544/7, enjoying a commanding lead of 186 runs. Joe Root's masterclass of 150 and Ollie Pope's crucial 71 kept the Indian attack at bay, marking the first time since 2015 that India conceded over 500 runs in an overseas Test innings. Despite the struggles, bowling coach Morne Morkel noted a slight improvement in discipline from the previous day, although the lack of intensity and penetration remained a concern heading into a crucial Day 4.

"We were much better today with the ball. Yesterday was a tough day. Siraj and Boom (Bumrah) started well today. Both Bumrah and Siraj had injury scares before Tea, leaving the field in discomfort. Morkel downplayed the concerns, saying, "Bumrah rolled his ankle going down the stairs, Siraj also rolled his ankle. Both are fine. India handed a debut to Anshul Kamboj in this crucial Test, who has just the one wicket of Ben Duckett to show for, which came on Day 2. "We needed someone who could bowl volume and is accurate. His name was in the mix for a long time," Morkel said.