CHENNAI: Conquering the spin challenge in India is probably the most critical ingredient to success for every foreign batsman. Will Young, a 24-year-old batsman from Central Districts, New Zealand, knows what 'preparation' is all about.
Young is part of the New Zealand A side which is set to play two unofficial Tests and five ODIs against India in Vizag starting September 23.
Even before the NZ 'A' squad for the India trip was announced officially, Young was setting himself up for the tour. While a few first-class cricketers from Canterbury (NZ) were training in Chennai at Cricket Drome as part of their training programme last month, Central Districts Club cricketer Young, too, had joined them as a special participant.
With former India cricketer Amol Muzumdar and former New Zealand cricketer Gary Stead taking charge, Young's 'sweeping lessons' got underway in Chennai. It was all about game scenarios for the young Kiwis. "One scenario was to put them under scoring pressure and see how they react to it," Muzumdar had said.
But Young had to face a different challenge. The right-handed batsman was challenged in a different manner so that he "trusts" his technique come the match situation. On a prepared turner, Young kept sweeping offies, leggies and left-arm spinners in front and behind square.
And then Stead said: "Remove your left pad and start sweeping."
"We were trying to challenge Will to trust his technique and it was about developing total trust on his game. If he didn't commit fully to the shot, he is going to get hit on the pads. Now without the (front) pad on, he has to be at the top of his technique to get the shot right. That was the thing we worked on there. It's a mental thing and trusting his game against spin," Stead told TOI on Wednesday.
Young, without his front pad on, went down on his knees, head on top of the ball and swept the ball right under his nose. The drill continued for a while and during the sessions that followed.
"I might well be touring here with the A side. Thus I thought of coming here with the Canterbury team and I got the nod from NZ cricket. I have heard a lot about the art of playing spinners in India. Sweep is a key shot to have in your game and I have been working hard on it. My aim is to ensure that you not only defend solidly but you should be in a position to rotate strike against spinners on wickets that assist them. I'm looking forward to the challenge of playing here," he had told TOI during his visit to Chennai last month.
Muzumdar, who had worked with the young boys from New Zealand, had mentioned that his primary agenda was to give assurance to the youngsters that most things that have been said about the 'difficult Indian conditions' were a "myth."
"When I was a player, I didn't think much about what they were thinking. But now as coach I see things from a different perspective. I think the turning ball, difficult conditions and stuff...it's a lot of myth. I believe if you are confident about your game, you can handle things in India as a foreigner. It's about being mentally prepared," he had said.
Young, who averages 41.81 with four hundreds and 22 fifties in 49 first-class matches, will hope his sweeping lessons come in handy as and when he faces the Indian spinners.
