Morkel backs India bowlers, cites demanding schedule and travel

India bowling coach Morne Morkel highlighted mental fatigue caused by a packed cricket schedule, praising bowlers for delivering despite demanding travel and match commitments. He urged critics to allow players occasional off-days and stressed the importance of recovery

Bengaluru: India’s fast bowling coach Morne Morkel on Friday praised the bowlers for delivering consistently for the team despite the “mental fatigue” caused by a packed schedule.

Indian cricketers have had a hectic run over the past couple of months, playing several bilateral series and competing at the Asian Games in Japan.

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“I read everything that’s written on social media. One thing that we sometimes forget is that mental fatigue plays a big part. We have to manage that and you have to be smart with it. If you look at this T20 side, some of the players went for the Asian Games, and then went straight into a full series now (against the West Indies),” Morkel said on the eve of the fifth T20I here.

“Then they had to fly off to Delhi for a presentation there (meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi) and back here in the morning. And now, we have to get them ready for a game. So, that is the reality, and these guys are also human,” he added.

Morkel stressed that adequate recovery time between matches was essential to get the best out of players.

“For me, your execution and your skills will be better when you’ve recovered well, when you’ve slept well, and once you’ve mentally refreshed. That is a challenge. We’re going to fly now to New Zealand. It’s a jam-packed schedule there as well.”

In this context, the former South African fast bowler urged people to be measured in their criticism of the bowlers’ performances.

“And that is sometimes a tricky thing. So, I’ve got a lot of respect for these guys, with the performances that they are at the moment producing for Team India, with the schedule we have.

“You know, and that’s why I sometimes think we can allow them to make a mistake and allow them to have an off game and not be on them, because of the mental load and expectation on these players,” he added.