BUMRAH OUT OF LORD’S TEST, TOO
India set to continue with five bowlers
London, Aug. 7: India will not be able to avail the services of Jasprit Bumrah for the second Test against England as he is yet to recover from a left hand fracture sustained during a T20 International against Ireland in June.
While the BCCI had stated in an earlier media release that Bumrah will be available for selection from the second Test subject to fitness, it is now confirmed that the recovery has been slower than expected and he is now out of contention from the Lord's Test.
“He ( Burmrah) is bowling fit right now but it’s too early to put him into a game- like situation. The plaster on his hand needs to come off first. He is out of contention for the second Test,” bowling coach Bharat Arun confirmed.
Bumrah has been bowling at the nets but it has been found that he is still taking catches with soft ball.
Arun said playing an extra batsman in the second Test against England will be a “conservative move” with the Lord’s pitch looking more bowlerfriendly than Edgbaston.
Interestingly, Sunil Gavaskar has been the biggest advocate of playing an extra batsman after India’s poor show in the series opener.
“Playing an extra batsman here, I would consider it as a conservative move. I think everything depends on the conditions and they are not going to be as friendly as it was in the first Test, it makes more sense to play five bowlers ( here),” Arun said.
The Indian batsmen were seen pushing hard at swinging deliveries but Arun defended them. “The batsmen played a lot forward in Birmingham and they did it in the practice game as well. They feel they have a lot more options in doing that rather than staying back inside the crease,” Arun said.
“You are cutting the amount of swing that the bowler can get by going further up and closer to the ball.”