India bowling coach Morne Morkel stated that pacers were unable to fully utilize the pink ball in the ongoing second BGT 2024 Test against Australia in Adelaide. India was bowled out for 180 in their first innings.

Then Australia, resuming their first innings at 86/1 on day two, had Travis Head to thank as his amazing 140-run knock decorated with 17 fours and 4 sixes, and a resilient fifty by Marnus Labuschagne took Australia to 337 runs.

Australia got a lead of 157 runs and then reduced India to 128/5 at stumps on day two.

"In the first Test match, our lines and lengths were exceptional, and I think that was the blueprint going for us, into this Test series. We wanted to bring stumps into play as much as we could, and I felt that last night with the ball moving around a bit. We missed that, we were slightly off the mark in finding the right length,” Morkel told reporters after day 2 in Adelaide.

“At times, we [India in the first innings] were a touch wide, so we allowed the guys to leave a lot of balls. If you look at the history of pink ball Tests, that time of night if you bowl [in those areas], then you can pick up wickets. This morning, we got more balls in the right area, more consistently. We bowled better in partnerships,” he added.

Jasprit Bumrah stood out throughout the innings, taking 4/61, while Mohammed Siraj had success late in the innings, finishing with a four-wicket haul despite giving four runs per over.

In contrast, Harshit Rana, playing only his second Test, had a difficult game, allowing 86 runs at more than five per over without taking a wicket.

Morkel sympathized with the young pacer, describing the experience as "painful" but hopeful, suggesting it could serve as a valuable learning curve for his development.

"Harshit Rana is playing his second Test match, it will be a big learning curve for him, playing his first time in Australia. He is a guy who will learn from today and we can just look to get better. Test cricket is a tough place. There is no place to hide. He has only played his second Test match, he is going to learn from these conversations. I think the biggest job for me is to put my arms around him today. Playing in front of 50,000 people, that is intimidating,” Morkel said.

"I want him to feel as a guy with a lot of potential, that we still back him as a team, we definitely do that. [I want to] just keep on having conversations with him, to keep learning. Ask good questions [to him]. Days like today [are] helpful. Even though they are painful, they are helpful in the longer way,” he added.

India will have a huge task on its hands to get a sizeable lead and put a stiff target for Australia.

(ANI inputs)