Morkel tells India bowlers to ‘stand in front of a fan’ to prepare for Wellington winds
Morne Morkel, India's bowling coach, advised India’s bowlers on 26 October 2026 to stand in front of a strong fan at home to simulate the gusty conditions they will face in Wellington, remarks made ahead of India’s third T20I against New Zealand in Wellington.
Morkel, who experienced Wellington’s conditions during his playing days for South Africa, warned that the Basin Reserve can produce sudden changes in wind direction that unsettle both batters and bowlers. He and head coach Gautam Gambhir are already considering the challenges confronting the Test squad, and the touring party saw winds in Wellington reach 120 kmph on Monday. Morkel said the gusts were so strong he could feel them inside his hotel, describing the wind as "a different beast. I was in the hotel this morning and the whole building was sort of shaking. So I think it's going to be a new sort of thing that we add to our books for the guys to get used to and accustomed to with a quick turnaround,".
Explaining the practical preparation, Morkel recounted conversations with players and urged them to replicate the feeling at home. "We've spoken about Wellington, especially before the start of the tour, and we've planted those seeds. I spoke to some of the boys who were back in India last night, and they asked what the conditions are like. I said, 'Make sure you get a very strong fan at home. When you walk into the fan, that is going to be your preparation'," he said ahead of India's third T20I against New Zealand.
Morkel stressed that short practice periods are unlikely to erase the effect of the wind and framed adaptation as a mental as well as physical task. "When I toured here with South Africa, we had certain ways that we went about trying to get used to it. I don't think you can ever get used to it in the space of two, three, or four days. So it comes down to how you're going to frame the whole situation: you're either going to see it as a challenge, or you're going to see it as a negative," he said.
He also highlighted a tactical issue for India’s bowlers, noting the wind will not affect all bowlers equally and urging individuals to accept difficult spells. With the wind changing direction across the ground, "Hopefully, we can get those guys in a mental space where they look forward to that challenge. At the end of the day, you need somebody to put their hand up and bowl into the wind, because we can't have four guys bowling off the wind," he added.
New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell, speaking about the Basin Reserve, described how the wind can swirl and force teams to adjust continuously. "It is interesting. At closed stadiums, it swirls around a bit, so it's probably not as consistent as it is when you play in a slightly more open field like the Basin. We had one game here where the cameras got turned off from one end because it was so windy," he said, and added: "So yeah, it's just about identifying those moments when it's sort of a little bit calmer or the wind is swirling in your direction as a batter, or being a bit more defensive with the ball." He declined to reveal New Zealand's plans for the Test series.
India remain in Wellington for Tuesday's T20I, and Morkel's recommendation is aimed at preparing the Test specialists who will confront Basin Reserve conditions when they arrive.