Ishant looking to adapt to the rigours of Hove

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India seamer Ishant Sharma has accepted the challenge of dealing with the slope at the Hove, home ground to Sussex for whom he has signed.

Ishant bowled just 13 overs in a rain ruined warm up match against Surrey having last played for India during the Test series in South Africa.

Sussex bowlers Chris Jordan and Jofra Archer are currently enjoying stints in the Indian Premier League while Ishant prioritizes the longest format ahead of the four Test tour later in the season.

Ishant said: “From downhill you get some good bounce because you are running down the slope.

“It looks like you are bowling back of a length.

“The ground is not what I am used to. We always have a level type of ground in India, nothing like uphill and down.

“But I will soon get used to the conditions.

“In India you hardly get this sort of bounce. I rely more on the bounce and hitting the deck really hard.

“When you go abroad the ball is always moving, with the Duke’s ball, and you get bounce. That is what my bowling is all about.

“I back myself and hit the deck hard and get the rewards.

“That is what I’m looking to do now.”

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Ishant Sharma of India appeals unsuccessfully for LBW during the second day of the third Sunfoil Test match between South Africa and India held at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa on the 25th January 2018
Photo by: Shaun Roy / BCCI / SPORTZPICS

Ishant is eager to learn from his time in England in the hope of prolonging a career increasingly threatened by India’s growing pace stocks.

He spoke of the role a county stint with Worcestershire helped Zaheer Khan break back into the India group.

Ishant added: “Zak did well. After, he came back to the India team and was totally a different bowler after that.

Sussex open their County Championship campaign with a match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston on Friday.

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