There is an old maxim related to swing bowling: don’t send a telegram to the batter. In simple terms, it means achieving late movement in the air and off the pitch to deceive the batter. Arshdeep Singh possesses this enviable skill in his bowling arsenal. He showcased his swing-bowling expertise in the recently concluded T20I against England.
The third ball of his second over provided ample evidence of his skill set—Arshdeep appeared to slant the ball into the left-handed Ben Duckett, only for it to move away late in the air and then off the pitch, beating the edge. The left-arm pacer wasn’t done yet. A couple of deliveries later, he bowled a similar delivery, forcing Duckett to produce a leading edge, with Rinku Singh taking a fine running catch.
Arshdeep didn’t necessarily generate prodigious swing on both occasions, but the ball’s trajectory indicated late movement. He also possesses the away-swinger to the right-hander, though it seems that delivery can sometimes be picked from the hand. The left-arm angle, however, acts as an additional weapon in his arsenal.
Arshdeep’s skill set extends beyond conventional swing. Standing at 6’3”, he extracts awkward bounce, as demonstrated when he surprised Phil Salt with a short delivery that bounced more than expected. He can also go around the wicket and generate genuine reverse swing with the old ball.
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At 25, Arshdeep is perhaps reaching the peak of his powers. It raises the question of whether the selectors should consider him for the other two formats. His inclusion in India’s Champions Trophy squad is a step in the right direction. His swing-bowling prowess could also be effective in England, where India will play a five-match Test series later this year.
The only potential concern regarding his red-ball credentials is whether he can adjust his length and maintain tight lines in the middle overs. His first-class average of 30.37 suggests he has struggled to execute plans effectively once the new ball loses its shine.
Only time will tell if Arshdeep can replicate his T20 success in other formats. For now, let’s focus on his prowess in the shortest format, where he has established himself as a key figure in India’s attack. His capabilities were on full display in the first T20I in front of a boisterous Eden Gardens crowd.
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