Star pacer Jasprit Bumrah took six wickets in the first Test against England last week, but India faced a stunning 28-run loss in Hyderabad. Despite Bumrah’s brilliance, England rode on Ollie Pope’s 196 and debutant spinner Tom Hartley‘s seven-wicket haul to register a memorable win. Depite little to no assistance from the track, the 30-year-old picked six wickets in the match, including figures of 4/41 in the second innings. With India aiming to level the series in Visakhapatnam, Bumrah has revealed his advice to the spinners.
Bumrah claimed that he urges the spinners to quickly complete their overs and ensure the ball remains shiny on the one side.
“I’m always behind everybody’s back. In India, if the ball becomes soft, you have to take care of the ball. With the saliva rule not being there, it’s difficult to maintain the ball sometimes. I’m always behind the spinners… ‘bowl your overs quickly and shine the ball’. Because when it reverses, it will help us, and it will help them,” Bumrah told the broadcasters ahead of the second Test.
“I’m always behind (their backs), and of course, if the ball is well-maintained, it is always an added bonus,” he added.
On Friday, India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal slammed his second century to put the hosts in the driver’s seat against England in the second Test in Vizag.
Earlier in the day, India captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat.
The hosts, who trail the five-match series 1-0, made three changes, including two forced with injuries to KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, in Visakhapatnam from their opening loss.
Batsman Rajat Patidar was handed his first Test cap by cricketer-turned analyst Zaheer Khan.
Patidar, who made the squad in the absence of Virat Kohli for the first two Tests, left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav and fast bowler Mukesh Kumar come in for Rahul, Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj.
England, led by Ben Stokes, named their team on the eve of the match and handed off-spinner Shoaib Bashir his first Test cap after Jack Leach went out injured following a stunning opening win.
Senior pace bowler James Anderson remains the lone quick in the team after replacing Mark Wood.
(With AFP Inputs)
Topics mentioned in this article
