Team India's bowling coach Morne Morkel outlines plan for seamers in hot and humid Galle

Team India's fast-bowling coach, Morne Morkel, has underlined instructions for the seamers ahead of the Test series opener against Sri Lanka in Galle. Morkel has admitted that the heat and humidity in Sri Lankan conditions will be a massive challenge for the seamers, in particular. Therefore, it is pivotal for them to channel their energy into producing short bursts of high intensity.

Morkel is aware that the red Kookaburra is bound to get softer after 25-30 overs and therefore making use of the hardness of the ball is crucial for early success. Barring a one-off Test against Afghanistan in June, India have not played much red-ball cricket in the past eight months, and Morkel feels that may become a challenge.

"Our skill is there, and the planning will be there, but the biggest challenge coming to Sri Lanka is the heat, the humidity, and the Kookaburra ball going soft a little earlier," Morkel said in a pre-match media interaction. "It will go soft after 25 or 30 overs, so we have to expect that. In these conditions, it's all about your mindset. If you're a fast bowler, if you're going to bowl the shortest spells, the energy you put in the ball and putting it into good areas - you'll always have opportunity. As the Test match will go on, hopefully there will be a little bit of uneven bounce.

"It's about how we can stack up overs together with intensity and create that pressure. Because we haven't played a lot of red-ball cricket in the last couple of months, going back into that is going to be a challenge as well."

Hitting the deck hard, using the crease and short deliveries to good effect will be paramount, Morkel feels. He also suggested that reverse swing may play a role if teams look after the condition of the ball carefully.

"I think reverse swing can definitely play a role here if teams can get the ball to reverse," Morkel said. "This morning we had quite a big shower, so that can make the outfield a little softer and the ball does take longer to reverse."

The first Test will get underway on August 15 at the Galle International Cricket Stadium.