Seam, skid and spirit: Akash Deep turns Edgbaston into spectacle of English mayhem

India Today

07-07-2025

If Indian pacer Akash Deep were a serial killer, his signature style would betray him. For his merciless assault reduces batters to grotesque spectacles, each marked by tell-tale signs of the perpetrator.His victims fall in eerie uniformity: legs splayed, knees buckled, bat limp in a feeble grip, shoulders twisted to the right, head falling to the left, eyes wide open, mouth agape—every image a relic of his methodical carnage.advertisementThe double demise of Harry Brook at Edgbaston epitomises Akash Deep's deadly craft. On both occasions, Brook was shattered like a brittle twig, his knees buckling, shoulders slumping, and the bat hanging uselessly.Template for the Australian bowling attack to Harry Brook in the Ashes.#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/LS2uvOKsRZ— CricBlog (@cric_blog) July 6, 2025
The devastation was unleashed by Akash Deep's skiddy seamers, his go-to weapon of destruction. In both innings, Akash Deep kept the ball just back of a length, and made them zip off the surface. Unable to counter the Akash missiles in time, Brook was blown apart mid-flight, scattering him into bits on the popping crease.Brook wasn't alone. Throughout the Test, Akash Deep had England's batters staggering like drunk dancers on slippery ice—flailing, falling and looking foolish. How did Akash Deep choreograph this pageant?Skidder Like ShamiFast bowling is science, especially physics and aerodynamics (how objects move through the air). When a bowler hurls the ball, it acts like a projectile—think of a bullet or slingshot—following rules of motion. While all fast bowlers use these principles, each has a unique style.Akash Deep's specialty is making the ball skid off the pitch—meaning it stays low and moves quickly after bouncing, often surprising the batter. His deliveries also swing or seam both ways (left or right), making them hard to predict. This skidding and unpredictable movement often lead to batters being bowled or trapped LBW. In domestic cricket, about half of Akash Deep's wickets come from these dismissals, showing his knack for knocking over stumps or pinning batters in front.Akash Deep's high arm action makes the ball skid, with more downward velocity than forward momentum, reducing pitch resistance. The upright seam further amplifies the skid effect, hurrying the ball through, as if it were on skates.How the wobbleball affected bowling tacticshttps://t.co/TeWvj8JM0S pic.twitter.com/AqAZJFpH7G— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) July 3, 2025To extract the best from his art, Akash Deep maintains a consistent line and length. As experts noted after his Edgbaston exploits, he attacks the stumps, bringing bowled and LBW into play. Nearly 70 percent of his deliveries are just short of good length (6-8 metres from stumps), giving them zip and stump-level height.advertisementIncidentally, the skid and upright seam—the thread sewn on the leather ball–-are trademarks of another great Indian pacer–Mohammad Shami. And Akash Deep looks like a bowler-for-bowler replacement for Shami.Here is the fun part: The curator of the Edgbaston pitch unwittingly helped Akash Deep turn into a lethal bowler.Digging Their Own GraveThe England team, as part of its Bazball policy, seeks to dominate Test cricket with fearless batting. Since it wants to use the bat as its strongest suit, the pitches are crafted in such a way that they suffer minimum wear, especially against teams like India that rely on spin.Because the pitches don't deteriorate or roughen, they remain smooth as highways till the end. These hard pitches help bowlers who can make the ball skid. (Since the resistance from the surface is minimum.)At Edgbaston, the English fell into their own trap by preparing what is called a paata pitch–flat, smooth and batting friendly, resembling an Indian track. Akash Deep (and Mohammad Siraj) exploited these conditions with their skidding-on-the-deck deliveries. English bowlers, conversely, tried to hit the surface for bounce and movement, which faded as the ball aged and the clouds disappeared.advertisementBut skid's not the only weapon for Akash Deep. His dismissal of Joe Root showcased his sharp mind: going wide on the crease, creating an angle, and making the ball jag away at the last second to knock off the bails—a delivery blending science, precision, and wizardry.#AkashDeep uproots #JoeRoot with a searing in-swinger, his second wicket puts England firmly on the back foot #ENGvIND 2nd TEST, Day 4 | LIVE NOW on JioHotstar https://t.co/2wT1UwEcdi pic.twitter.com/avu1sqRrcG— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 5, 2025But, all of this couldn't have been achieved if Akash Deep wasn't the embodiment of the old adage: a man who has nothing to lose is a dangerous man.A Dangerous ManAt 23, Akash Deep was forced to take a break from cricket to take care of his father, who was paralysed. A few years later, Akash Deep lost his father and elder brother.In 2024, when he debuted for India against England at Ranchi, Akash Deep unleashed his skidders and seamers, scalping three wickets in no time. Later, he told the media, he had no fear. 'Having lost so much, there was nothing else to lose,' he said.advertisementAkash Deep's mental toughness has been forged by hardships and tragedies, which seem bent to test him further with his sister's illness. At Edgbaston, his resolve was further steeled by the realisation that once again he had nothing to lose. Already the fourth choice bowler, he was playing because Jasprit Bumrah had to be rested. Aware that his chances were limited, Akash Deep battled without fear, bowling his heart out, gambling his last breath.Akash Deep's Edgbaston heroics have rewritten his story from a fourth-choice bowler to an indispensable force. His skiddy seamers, relentless accuracy, and fearless spirit have not only dismantled England's batters but also their carefully laid plans. At Lord's, the hosts face a grim choice: craft another flat track, and Akash Deep's missiles will wreak havoc; offer bounce, and Bumrah's wrath awaits. With Siraj by their side, this holy trinity of pace has India dreaming big.From a boy shaped by loss to a warrior owning the crease, Akash Deep has proven that the most beautiful carnage comes from a perpetrator that fears nothing.- EndsMust Watch