India\u2019s pace department has been dealt a significant blow with Jasprit Bumrah ruled out of the series due to a knee injury. Mohammed Siraj is now the most experienced member of the seam attack, with Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar and newly called-up Auqib Nabi providing the other options.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Morkel believes the conditions will test the Indian seamers\u2019 ability to adjust their plans once the ball loses its hardness.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cOur skill is there, and the planning will be there, but the biggest challenge coming to Sri Lanka is the heat, the humidity, and the Kookaburra ball going soft a little earlier. It will go soft after 25 or 30 overs, so we have to expect that. In these conditions, it\u2019s all about your mindset. If you\u2019re a fast bowler, if you\u2019re going to bowl the shortest spells, the energy you put into the ball and putting it into good areas -- you\u2019ll always have opportunity,\u201d Morkel said, as quoted by Cricinfo.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The bowling coach wants India\u2019s seamers to make the most of the early stages of their spells before finding alternative methods to create chances as the ball gets older.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAs the Test match will go on, hopefully there will be a little bit of uneven bounce. It\u2019s about how we can stack up overs together with intensity and create that pressure because we haven\u2019t played a lot of red-ball cricket in the last couple of months; going back into that is going to be a challenge as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The former South Africa pacer believes hitting the deck hard and maintaining disciplined lengths can still trouble batters in Sri Lankan conditions. Still, the bowlers will need to become more inventive once the Kookaburra loses its hardness.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cEven in our playing days, I thought if you hit the deck hard here, you are asking lots of questions on a good length, you\u2019re always in the chance of picking up results,\u201d Morkel said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The former South Africa pacer believes hitting the deck hard and maintaining disciplined lengths can still trouble batters in Sri Lankan conditions. Still, the bowlers will need to become more inventive once the Kookaburra loses its hardness.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The first Test will be played in Galle from August 15, while the second Test is scheduled for Colombo from August 23. <\/p>\r\n\r\n