Dawes pleased with KXIP’s young bunch

Impressed: Joe Dawes and Sanjay Bangar were both especially pleased with medium-pacer Sandeep Sharma's performance.

Despite Kings XI Punjab’s recent troubles, bowling coach Joe Dawes has reason to be pleased. Speaking to the media on Monday, the Australian revealed his excitement at the development of the franchise’s bowlers into leaders.

“I think there are areas in which we can improve and there are areas that we’re talking about. But they are a young group, barring Mitch (Mitchell Johnson), which continues to learn. The young Indians are doing well,” he said.

Dawes reserved special praise for young medium-pacer Sandeep Sharma.

“Sandeep’s bowling extremely well, whether he’s asked to open the bowling or come back in the middle or also at the death. The pleasing thing for me is that he wants to bowl”

The rise in Sandeep’s pace has been particularly pleasing for Dawes. The bowling coach praised the 21-year-old for managing his workload wisely after suffering a stress fracture last year. “He’s one of the rare, I think, young Indian bowlers who understands the concept that he doesn’t have to bowl every day,” added Dawes.

As he grows older, Sandeep could even bowl faster, according to the bowling coach. While head coach Sanjay Bangar doubted the speedometer’s efficiency in mapping a delivery’s pace, it didn’t stop him from revealing his admiration for Sandeep.

“I’m not too sure whether the accuracy of the device can be trusted. But if that is being shown and that is a fact, I think we are very pleased that the improvement has happened.

“But for us what’s more important is that he’s beating the bat, he’s beating the outside edges, he’s getting the ball to move and the consistency has been great. So that is definitely what we can see and what we are very happy about,” said Bangar.

The coaching staff isn’t as happy about the side’s overall form but Dawes reckons that the team finds itself in a better mental state now, as compared to the start of the season.

“There was always going to be a big letdown (in intensity after the World Cup). But we’re probably looking at a month ago now, aren’t we? The guys are professional cricketers. They’re used to playing 10, 11 or 12 months a year now. That’s the challenge on them.

“But we’ve got a really good environment here. It’s pretty relaxed, everyone has fun. You know, you can see the guys growing into it.”