'No worries' over Rohit, batters need time to adjust to Lord's slope, says Morkel

Morkel addressed the media ahead of the third ODI, with the series level at 1-1. India suffered a damaging collapse in the second game, slipping from 178/3 to 233 all out and losing by four wickets. Morkel admitted that the team looked set to get to the 280-300 mark at one point, assuring that the intent is to always "push that 10%" and get better.

Ahead of the third ODI, considerable spotlight has been on Rohit Sharma, with media reports initially hinting at a retirement at Lord's. It was followed by a statement from the BCCI secretary, assuring that no such announcement was in the offing.

Morkel threw his weight behind Rohit, especially following his sluggish 26 off 47 in the second game, insisting there were "no worries and concerns" around the former India captain's batting.

"Like I said earlier, it is hard work with a new ball up front," Morkel said. "We have seen that in the entire series. The ball is moving around. So batting up front, it is not easy. No doubt Rohit will work it out. He has done it in the past.

"He is experienced. And he just brings that calmness to the batting line-up. So without a doubt, no worries and concerns at all with the way he is going about things."

The slope at Lord's is an oft-repeated sub-theme before every game at the venue. Morkel, who played at the venue on three separate Test tours, suggested that batters "need to give yourself 5 or 10 balls just to see how the ball is behaving off the slope," calling it a "tricky" surface of late, where "individuals need to take responsibility" and quickly assess conditions.

"If you look at our top, top middle-order, they have played a lot of cricket are very experienced. They are very well aware of some of the conditions and how to form partnerships and that is going to be the key".

While the batting collapse led India to a subpar total, the bowlers could not break through the defiance of Joe Root, whose 99* formed the cornerstone of their chase. Morkel felt the way the unit bowled in the game was "exceptional", adding that it was great to see the speeds and areas at which his bowlers were operating.

While explaining that Prasidh Krishna and Gurnoor Brar were earmarked to bowl with the extra bounce in the middle overs, he admitted it was crucial to get wickets in that phase.

India will be without Washington Sundar for the third ODI: pushed to bat at five in the first game, he responded with 52*, but injured himself in the second ODI, leaving India one bowler short in the chase.

Morkel remained coy about India's combination, saying "all options were on the table", when asked if Kuldeep Yadav could make his way in, potentially leaving India one batter short.

"I am pretty sure Gautam (Gambhir) will have a look at the surface, and they probably will announce 12 or 13 guys and then tomorrow make the final call in terms of what we see then," he said. Harsh Dubey had been confirmed as Washington's replacement.

While a win in the final match will give India their fifth ODI series win in England, it will also serve as a boost in the lead-up to the World Cup next year, scheduled just over a year from now. Morkel has the natural advantage of understanding surfaces in South Africa, one of the co-hosts, and will be funneling it towards the Indian team as they intensify their preparation for the tournament.

"I would like to think that living in South Africa and playing 20 years of cricket in South Africa, that my experience counts for something," he said. "For us, at the moment it is about playing the best brand of cricket we can.

"There definitely conversations about the World Cup and planning that potentially we can take forward once we reach there or getting closer to the World Cup time. But for sure, I have learned my trade in South Africa. I understand the surfaces. I understand that the wickets can play differently at certain times of the year.

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