It's the experience of bowling with the Duke ball in England, says India's pace spearhead.
'There is a lot of movement with the Duke ball; you get a lot of confidence in out-swing, in-swing, whatever you are trying.'
India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah says the experience of bowling with the Duke ball in English conditions is helping him succeed in the ongoing Test tour of the West Indies.
Bumrah claimed a five-wicket haul (5/7) in the first Test in Antigua and followed it up by becoming only the third Indian to take a Test hat-trick in the ongoing second Test in Kingston on Saturday.
He claimed six wickets for 27 runs from 12.2 overs as India bundled out the West Indies for 117 in the first innings.
"I played a lot of cricket Duke ball. There is a lot of movement with the Duke ball; you get a lot of confidence in out-swing, in-swing, whatever you are trying. So that experience helped me out," Bumrah told reporters after the third day's play on Sunday.
India inched closer to a series sweep on Day 3 by setting the West Indies a massive target of 468 runs. In reply the hosts ended the day on 45 for 2.
Asked about India's strategy, Bumrah said the plan was to create pressure in the first innings.
"You have to assess the wicket, what are the conditions, what works here. Here the wicket has a lot more bounce. In such bouncy wickets you can become greedy and bowl short but you shouldn't do that. You should look to bowl in good areas and create pressure and try and bowl full. That was the plan going into the first innings," he said.
The 25-year-old pacer said he always focusses on contributing to the team's cause.
"I always look at the team goals. If we win the match and I don't have any wickets, it's fine. My aim is to contribute to the team's success, be it by taking wickets or creating pressure."
He said he always picks the brains of his experienced pace colleagues to hone his skills.
"We have done a lot of hard work and last year we played a lot of away matches. Lot of camaraderie is there, we back each other. Even when things are going well we discuss what we can do better. We have a good relationship.
"Ishant has played a lot more cricket than all of us, (Mohammed) Shami has played a lot; I'm the new guy, so I try and ask questions. I ask them, (since) they've played here before, 'what works in different conditions?' 'If the wicket is not doing anything what should we do?’ what different plans are to be there."
After Bumrah dismissed one of the West Indies batsman in the first innings, skipper Virat Kohli was caught on the stump microphone saying, "What a bowler, man! What a bowler!".
Asked about Kohli's reaction, he said the captain's faith instills self-belief in him.
"The captain's confidence gives you a lot of self-belief. When you bowl, you can express yourself, you can try whatever you want to do. That gives you a lot of confidence, not only me but each and every bowler is being backed by him so much.
"As a bowling unit we are very happy and then we have the freedom to do what we want."
