London, England- India’s pace sensation Jasprit Bumrah masterfully navigated questions surrounding the contentious Dukes ball changes during the second day of the third Test against England at Lord’s. Despite repeated disruptions due to the ball’s condition, Bumrah maintained a diplomatic stance, choosing to focus on his stellar performance that saw him claim a five-wicket haul.
Ball Woes Plague Day Two
The second day’s play was marred by persistent issues with the Dukes ball. Just two overs into the day, India raised concerns about the ball, which was only 10 overs old. An attempt by the umpire to pass the ball through the hoop failed, leading to a heated discussion between India captain Shubman Gill and the umpire. Gill’s visible discontent continued even during the drinks break.
The “endemic concern” with the ball persisted, with another replacement required just 48 deliveries later when the ball lost its shape. In the final session, England also requested a change, but their appeal was denied as the ball successfully passed the hoop test. The frequent ball changes drew criticism from fans and former cricketers alike.
Bumrah’s Measured Response
When questioned about the recurring ball issues at the post-match press conference, Bumrah chose his words carefully, indicating a desire to avoid any statements that could lead to a fine.
“The ball changes, I don’t really control that. Obviously, I don’t want to lose out on money because I work very hard and play a lot of overs. So, I don’t want to say any controversial statements and get my match fees deducted. But we were bowling with the ball that we were given. And that’s how it is. We can’t change it. We can’t fight it. Sometimes it goes your way. Sometimes you get a bad ball. That’s how it is,” Bumrah stated, maintaining a neutral tone.
Sizzling Performance Amidst the Chaos
Despite the ball controversies, the world-class pacer delivered a scorching performance, taking a sizzling 5/74 under London’s sweltering conditions. His crucial dismissals of Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, and Joe Root significantly tipped the scales in India’s favour.
Mentoring the Young Guns
Bumrah also addressed comments made by young Nitish Kumar Reddy on the opening day, where Reddy had highlighted Bumrah’s importance and revealed that the youngsters follow his advice. Bumrah jokingly dismissed this, saying, “Sir, first, that answer is a lie. He’s not asked me anything.”
He then elaborated on his approach to mentoring the younger players. “But the other thing is that these youngsters are very confident. And they don’t need a lot of guidance or information. Whenever and whatever capacity they need me, I’m right there to help them out, and I share my experiences and what I learned in the previous tours over here,” he explained.
Bumrah emphasized a hands-off approach, allowing the young cricketers to develop their own techniques and strategies. “So that’s how as simple as I am trying to keep them. I’m not trying to jump in into every conversation, give them too much information, try to tell them to do things like I do because that’s not how it will work. Because my technique is different. My way of bowling is different, and my way of handling things will be different. And so it will be different for them. But if anything they require or any assistance they require, I try to help to the best of my capacity,” he concluded.
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