Dubai, UAE (26 October 2023)–Desert Vipers spin coach, Carl Crowe is looking forward to meeting the team’s two new UAE recruits, leg-spinner Karthik Meiyappan, and left-arm off-spin bowler Aryan Lakra, and believes they complete the team’s bowling attack.Speaking to the Vipers Voices podcast, Crowe said: “We have seam bowlers, swing bowlers, fast bowlers, and with these two young, exciting local spinners we have got all bases covered so, when it comes to match day, we can select based on what we feel might be beneficial in those conditions.”Aryan Lakra said he was delighted to be picked by the Desert Vipers, and he was grateful to Carl Crowe, who helped quell any jitters and assured the young off-spinner that there would be no unrealistic expectations.“As the only left-arm spinner in the squad, I do provide some value, and I am really looking forward to the season. I have already had a chat with Carl Crowe. It was a small conversation but what I felt was there is not much pressure on me as a player. All I have to do is go out there and do my best in whatever opportunity I get.“I am definitely looking forward to learning a lot and providing value and helping the team win a few games.”Crowe said he believed the Desert Vipers setup would support the young players in their journey of learning and help them progress: “With spin bowling, it is more of an art and it grows over a period of years, so it is fair to say that most spin bowlers I have observed or watched, definitely hit their peak after the age of thirty.“But I do think in the modern game what is exciting is how young bowlers burst onto the scene. With these guys (Lakra and Meiyappan) in terms of the bar and expectations, there are no expectations in terms of outcome and performances. The expectation will be that you come, you work hard, you fit into the group, you put the team first, and you play and help us play the style of cricket that the management and the captain require.”The burden of expectation is real for Karthik Meiyappan as well, as he is best known for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup hat-trick he took last year against Sri Lanka. The spin coach Carl Crowe was clear that Meiyappan would be given all the space he needed to show off his skills.“From our perspective, there will be no pressure, as he has shown us what he is capable of. There is no expectation to take a hat-trick every time he bowls for us, that is for certain,” said Crowe.“I understand, that since that is what he is famous for he might feel the expectation from himself to perform at that level all the time. But just to reiterate there will be no such pressure from our side. We are looking to welcome him on board and (to help him) learn and take the opportunity when it arises, and just to go out there and show the skill that he has. We do not expect him to go out and win the game for us every time he plays.”Karthik Meiyappan will be playing in the ILT20 for the second time, having previously been a part of the Sharjah Warriors. Meiyappan said he was thrilled to be a part of the Desert Vipers setup where he will have the opportunity to mingle with the finest players and spinners from across the globe.“The fact that Desert Vipers have Wanindu Hasaranga and Shadab Khan in the spin attack stood out to me. I was really looking forward to being a part of the Desert Vipers family. And now that I am going to be a member of that spin attack it feels absolutely great. I have met Wanindu Hasaranga before and have had opportunities to pick his brain, so it will be really nice to see him again. But I am also really looking forward to meeting Shadab Khan because he brings a different kind of leg-spin into the picture with his pace and variations. I am really looking forward to having a chat with him and understanding how he goes about his game.”
Desert Vipers spin coach Carl Crowe is excited about the two new UAE signings Karthik Meiyappan and Aryan Lakra as both spinners look to make an early impact in Season two
