Former England captain Nasser Hussain raised questions about how India will manage Jasprit Bumrah’s workload if they manage to save the ongoing fourth Test against England in Manchester. Originally, the 31-year-old speedster was scheduled to feature in only three of the five Tests as part of a pre-series strategy.
However, with India currently trailing 1-2 in the five-match series and the possibility of a draw in the fourth Test keeping the series alive, Bumrah’s involvement in the final match at The Oval could become crucial. At present, India are 174/2 in their second innings, still 137 runs behind England.
Sharing his thoughts in a column for the Daily Mail, Hussain discussed Bumrah’s potential availability for the Oval Test.
“If they escape Manchester only 2–1 down, are they really going to leave out their greatest match-winner with the ball? People are saying that India have lost the two games Bumrah has played in and won the one he missed, with Siraj and Akash Deep bowling India to victory in the second Test at Edgbaston.”
He further added:
“But there are a lot of things that go into losing a game of cricket, and I don’t think you can honestly say Bumrah’s bowling was one of the causes of the tourists’ defeats at Headingley and Lord’s.”
Nasser Hussain questions Bumrah’s effectiveness with the new ball in 4th Test
Nasser Hussain felt Jasprit Bumrah was ineffective with the new ball in the first innings of the Manchester Test, conceding over 100 runs for the first time in his career. His 2/112 from 33 overs played a major role in England’s huge total of 669.
“It’s true that in this match, for the first time I can remember, Bumrah didn’t make the best use of the new ball, bowling too straight at Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, when a fifth- or sixth-stump line is where you want to aim against these England batters,” wrote Hussain (via the aforementioned source).
“And, of course, the stat doing the rounds was that Bumrah had conceded 100 in a Test innings for the first time, in what is his 48th Test. You don’t stop being a champion bowler overnight, and India will just be hoping they’re forced into a difficult decision come The Oval,” he added.
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