Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Yorkshire bowling coach Mick Lewis spoke to the media this evening. Pictured here chatting to batting coach John Sadler.
“We usually say day three is moving day, but it’s been a fast-forward 24 hours or so.”
Mick Lewis was certainly not wrong as he assessed day two at The Kia Oval, one which saw 23 wickets fall, all four innings make an appearance on the same day and Surrey end it on 27-0 chasing 185.
Conditions have been bowler-friendly throughout the two days’ play we’ve had so far, and it would be a surprise if that changed tomorrow.
Swing, seam and invariable bounce were all aids to the quicks.
Bowling coach Lewis said: “It’s been pretty exciting, really.
“There was some extraordinary bowling today from both Surrey and us.
“The way we went about it this morning with the bat, we put on 50-odd for three wickets and got us up to we thought was a competitive score. Then, to come out and do what we did with the ball, I was extremely happy for the guys.
“It didn’t work out the way we wanted to, but it’s a funny game this.
“We’ve got runs on the board, and the boys say that it’s still doing enough to create some chaos tomorrow.
“I’d rather be in our shoes.”
Lewis then quipped: “I don’t know what the batsmen’s problems are!
“No, look, there’s a bit of movement, it’s a challenging wicket, and you have to adapt to those conditions. You can’t always have them in your favour, and that’s a case today.
“We’ve got to come out, put pressure on the batsmen tomorrow and put the ball in the area enough times. I think if we can do that, we can create 10 chances.
“We were thinking 250 plus there would have been ideal, but we’ve got 185 to defend.
“I know the guys are a little bit disappointed with the way they bowled tonight. They went chasing a little bit, and I think we’ve just got to go back to work like the first innings.”
And Lewis added: “They used a heavy roller tonight, and it’s probably worn off by now I would say. So tomorrow morning is going to be a bit different.
“We’ll wait and see what happens.”
