Bumrah reposes skipper Kohli’s faith with match-winning spell
Jasprit Bumrah’s unique action and yorkers make him a T20 darling, but he again proved in the Trent Bridge Test why Virat Kohli swears by his abilities in the longest format.
Kohli picked Bumrah over Umesh Yadav in the January series in South Africa and he bagged 14 wickets, seven in the final Test win at Wanderers. The pacer though was left frustrated for nearly two months on the England tour after suffering a thumb fracture in the tour opener versus Ireland in June.
He returned with a bang in the third Test with a four-wicket haul with the second new ball late on Day 4 to end England’s resistance and all but seal victory.
He bowled a marathon 26 overs on Day 4, including nine in the morning and 11 in the extended, final session.
“When I made my first-class debut, my first spell was of 10 overs,” he said, after taking 5/85 for a match haul of seven.
“I was always used to bowling lots of overs in Ranji Trophy. When I was injured I was working on my fitness. I was always in touch with our trainers, whenever I come I should be in a good space.”
Ahead of the England tour, Kohli gave Bumrah’s example while endorsing the Yo-Yo fitness test. “That (focus on fitness) showed in the mindset of someone like Jasprit, who was bowling 144 kph in his last spell of the third Test (Johannesburg). That is where someone’s fitness comes in. When you have people that are hungry, that are fit, that are ready, you are not only competing, but are winning.”
Before this Test, Kohli said why he backed Bumrah over Umesh. “He’s an attacking bowler who bowls good line and length. He’s consistent in hitting the areas required at Test level. He showed that in South Africa and he’s one guy who’s aggressive in mind. He wants to take the situation front on and make the batsmen feel uncomfortable.”
Bumrah, 24, is clear about his T20 and Test plans, belying the fact that he is in his fourth Test.
“In white-ball cricket, things are different — over there you outsmart the batsman; in Test cricket, it’s about patience and consistency. You can’t blast the batsmen out. I was looking to always challenge the batsmen with good length and line.”
Bumrah said his focus was to be ready when he got back. “Match feel is always different. Try to get into the groove quickly and that was my basic aim.”
He broke through with the second new ball, trapping Jos Buttler leg before as he tried to shoulder arms. The England batsman had got into the Test side due to his IPL performances.
“We’ve played together for MI (Mumbai Indians), so I’ve bowled a little bit to him in the nets. It’s always an interesting competition because he’s an attacking player. He’s an important player for their team as well. I’ve got him out 2-3 times in IPL and in the nets as well. I was focusing on that… I have a clear plan, a clear head.”
NOTTINGHAM: