Ravi Shastri Critiques Indian Bowlers' Support for Jasprit Bumrah in First Test Against England
Concerns Raised Over Bowling Support
Ravi Shastri, the former captain and head coach of India, voiced his disappointment regarding the inadequate support provided to pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah during Day 2 of the first Test against England at Headingley on June 21.
After India was bowled out for 471, having collapsed from a strong position of 430/4, Bumrah led the bowling attack, claiming all three wickets of England's top order, dismissing Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, and Joe Root. By the end of the day, England had reached 209/3 in 49 overs, with Ollie Pope and Harry Brook at the crease, scoring 100 and 0, respectively.
Bumrah's Lone Battle
Despite Bumrah's impressive performance, he received minimal assistance from his fellow bowlers, who struggled to maintain consistency and failed to exert pressure on the English batsmen. This allowed players like Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett to stabilize the innings with aggressive batting.
Shastri highlighted the disparity in performance levels, expressing concern over Bumrah's workload as the series progresses. He emphasized that Bumrah is expected to take wickets consistently, stating, "There's a big difference in levels. The concern is Bumrah and what his workload will be as the series progresses."
Call for Support from Other Bowlers
Shastri urged other bowlers to step up, saying, "I just hope someone at the other end puts their hands up."
India's fast bowling lineup also includes Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Shardul Thakur. Siraj managed to trap Joe Root LBW, but the decision was overturned after review. Siraj ended up conceding 50 runs in 14 overs without taking a wicket, while Prasidh recorded figures of 0/56 in 10 overs. Shardul Thakur, who bowled three overs, gave away 23 runs, and Ravindra Jadeja, leading the spin attack in the absence of Ravichandran Ashwin, bowled nine overs for 25 runs without a wicket.
Looking Ahead to Day 3
As Team India prepares to resume their bowling on Day 3, they aim to apply early pressure on the English batsmen by tightening their lines. However, Bumrah will need support from his teammates to maintain pressure and prevent England from gaining momentum.
Shastri reiterated the importance of other bowlers stepping up to support Bumrah, stating, "India would only be hoping that one of the other fast bowlers raises their standard and delivers for the team."
Notably, Bumrah has surpassed Wasim Akram's Asian record for the most Test wickets in SENA nations (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia). With three wickets, Bumrah's tally in these countries stands at 148, including nine five-wicket hauls, with an average of 20.30 and an economy rate of 2.76. He is just two wickets away from becoming the first Asian bowler and the fourth overall to reach 150 Test wickets in SENA countries.