India vs England 2021: Bharat Arun Eyes Joe Root After Stifling Steve Smith In Australia

Indian fast-bowling coach Bharat Arun had stated that he has shifted his focus to Joe Root after stifling Steve Smith in the recently concluded Border Gavaskar Series. Bharat Arun was responsible for the great bowling plans from India and to take 72 wickets on the tour. The good news for India is that Ishant Sharma has returned to the squad to pair up with Bumrah after missing out on the Australian tour.

India had a memorable series in Australia and they executed their plans really to surprise the Australians on their home. Joe Root with the kind of form he is in now will be the most important batsman for England after averaging around 104 in the two-Test match series in Sri Lanka. But Bharat Arun is never short of plans and India went on to hold back Steve Smith for an average series with only one hundred.

Bharat Arun Explains How They Got The Big Fish

Bharat Arun, who had a lengthy conversation with the head coach Ravi Shastri had brought up the areas where Steve Smith scores a lot of runs and set the field accordingly. Steve Smith has been scoring most of his runs on the offside according to the Analyst who showed the batting graph of Steve Smith.

Bharat Arun wanted the bowlers to bowl in a straight line and dry up the scoring shots making him play in his weak zone. They did set up a leg-side field for Smith and Smith did fall into the prey a couple of times.

“It was a lengthy chat but the long and short of it was simple. Take the offside out of Australia. I want you to devise a plan where the entire attack is straighter and a field to go with it,” Shastri told Bharat Arun in a conversation.

“The idea was to dry up the scoring as much as possible. And it would have to begin with the taming of Steve Smith. He was, after all, their main man – the best batsman in the world,” says Bharat Arun.

The Idea Behind Bowling Straight Lines

Bharat Arun also explained the idea behind bowing straight to Steve Smith was to make him difficult to control the ball on the on-side which will bring the field into play. Arun also mentioned Smith being a player who uses his hands a lot and bowling slower will make it difficult for him. The plans worked in favor of India and Arun found rich dividends out of it.

“They couldn’t have asked for a better time for Root to be in this kind of touch,” said Arun. “We are going to work on him,” he added

Joe Root is the next threat India has and Bharat Arun has started working on the right-hander to get the plans ready.