India bowling coach Morne Morkel wants Indian pacers to be street-smart during the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. India lacks experience in terms of fast bowling, following the injuries to Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana. Mohammed Siraj will lead the attack and will have the likes of Prasidh Krishna, Auqib Nabi and Gurnoor Brar.

Morkel acknowledged the lack of experience but said that the players made the squad on skills and know how to bowl in tough conditions.

“I think it’s exciting. All these guys have come a long way with their skill. Not so long ago in the A side, Gurnoor (Brar) was very successful, so he knows, sort of, he’s got an idea about the conditions. Prasidh, Siraj, they’ve played a lot of cricket back home, where it’s also tough bowling conditions,” Morkel told reporters on Thursday.

For India, the spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar will play a big role, however, pacers will have their say with the new ball. But once the ball gets old, they’ll have to play the supporting role. Morkel feels that the humid conditions will present a challenge, adding that they’ll have to be very smart in terms of using the crease and short balls.

“I think coming here, our skill is there, the planning will be there, but the biggest challenge will be the heat and humidity. The ball will go softer after 20-35 overs. Expect that. But what is our next step? To be street-smart in terms of how we’re going to use the crease, how we’re going to use our short ball. All those conditions and all those sort of situations we need to be able to sum up quite quickly. And then execute it with a lot of energy and go into those areas,” the former South African pacer added.

The first Test is set to begin in Galle on August 15.