Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah believes one lesser bowler has affected the team as they failed to bowl out the hosts England at the early period in the first innings of the ongoing fifth and final Test of the series at The Oval (London).
Starting the day two on their overnight score 198/7, English batsmen Jos Buttler and Stuart Broad put a frustrating 98-run partnership for the ninth wicket that helped the hosts to cross the 300-run mark in their first innings as they scored 332 runs before losing the final wicket.
While India played with five bowlers, including the all-rounder Hardik Pandya, in the first four matches of this Test series, only four regular bowlers have been available in the ongoing fifth Test’s playing XI.
Pointing out that matter, Bumrah said at the end of the day two, “When you have an extra bowler, it gives you some cushion while bowling. When you bowl with four bowlers, you to bowl more overs as you have to come back (to bowl) quickly. We bowled our hearts out yesterday as well as today, because we bowled a lot of overs. Sometimes, having an extra bowler gives you more rest.”
Bumrah admitted that they were in a good position when England was batting on 198/7 at the stumps on day one. He further added that they have planned for each batsman with equal respect and tried to execute but failed to earn the success.
Bumrah said, “Obviously, we were at a good position when we restricted them to 198/7. The reason behind their comeback in the game was two-sided – their tail batted well, but we failed to capitalise on the situation as a bowling unit as well.
“We tried to bowl in the right areas, but they applied themselves well. We plan for each and every batsman and give equal respect to every batsman. We tried to execute that today, but it didn’t work.”
Buttler played a brilliant knock of 89 runs off 133 balls (6 fours and 2 sixes) in that innings that helped England to cross the 300-run total, which seemed unachievable at one stage. Form 214/8, Buttler put a crucial 98-run partnership with Stuart Broad for the ninth wicket and brought back the hosts into the track.
Accepting his good knock, Bumrah claimed it was the ‘win-win situation’ for a batsman where Buttler achieved his success.
Bumrah said, “He played well today and took his chances. When you bat with the tail, you don’t have much to lose and you can play with a lot of freedom. Our batsmen have done that as well – we saw it in the first Test match when Virat (Kohli) was batting with the tail, he scored a lot of runs. That’s a position where a batsman has a win-win situation. If it doesn’t pay off, it’s okay. If it does, it’s a bonus for the team.”
