KOLKATA, India, CMC-Australian spinner Brad Hodge has insisted that a change in the bowling action of West Indies spinner Sunil Narine has had little impact on his control and mastery.
Hodge and Narine are team mates on Kolkata Knight Riders, one of eight teams contesting the 2016 edition of the Indian Premier league (IPL).
Narine was expected to rejoin KKR on last evening after a brief visit back home to Trinidad and Tobago following the death of his father.
“It is good having Sunil V 2.0,” Hogg said.
“It is just a confidence thing with Sunil. I remember taking some balls from him”.
Narine was cleared by cricket’s world governing body, the ICC, to resume bowling in international cricket.
He had been banned by the ICC last November, after tests showed his action on all deliveries, exceeded the 15 degree level of tolerance permitted under regulations.
“I struggled to pick it from the hand. He was bowling the doosra or I thought it was going the other way and I looked like a complete idiot as the ball went to the boundary past me,” Hogg said.
“His action was perfect. And he was still bowling the balls we see out in the middle. We know that he can do it legitimately.”
Narine’s return is expected to provide a huge boost to KKR who defeated Delhi Daredevils by nine-wickets in their tournament opener.
Hogg, who took three wickets in Knight Riders’ win, believes Narine’s return would mean a tussle for spots.
“We put pressure on each other with the ball. It is competitive and respectful competition between us,” he said.
“He is a class bowler. He has been sorely missed”.
