It is time now to keep the 22-run heartbreak at Lord’s aside. It is time for Team India to focus on the Manchester Test, a venue they have never won a Test before. July 23 would be a golden chance for Shubman Gill‘s boys to equalise the series 2-2, provided they don’t decide to leave out India’s best players.
Mohammed Siraj & Jasprit Bumrah Proven Performers for India
Yes, there have been talks regarding the workload management of Indian pacers. Mohammed Siraj has played three on the trot, and before the series started, it was clear that Jasprit Bumrah would play only three. But is it the correct time to really give the duo, or either one of them a break? Perhaps not. If this Test is lost, then the series is lost, and India wouldn’t want to lose their first-ever to England, since 2018.
So, how much have Siraj and Bumrah actually bowled? In three Test, the former has sent down 109 overs, while picking up 13 wickets, and Bumrah has 86.4 in two matches, with 12 wickets. If we further break this down, in the first match at Leeds, Bumrah bowled 44.4 overs, while Siraj came at 41.
Duo Must Play in Manchester Test
In the second match, Bumrah was rested, while Siraj bowled 31.3. In the Lord’s Test, 43 and 36 overs, respectively. The number might just seem huge, but that is what they have been doing since the start of WTC in 2019, just like the other top bowlers in the world. In fact, Aussie pace trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, perhaps might be more overworked, than any other pacer in the world.
Not the Most Over-worked
Bumrah, for starters, has bowled 1122 overs in all of WTC’s, in 37 matches. So his average comes out to be 30.3 overs in a match. Siraj has 993 overs in 39 matches, and his average is 25.4. Cummins has bowled 1631 overs in 51 matches, and his average is 31.9. Starc has sent down 1427 in 49 clashes, and his average is 29.1, more than Siraj. And lastly, Hazlewood has 974 in 32 matches, and his average is 30.4.
No one can really question that Bumrah, due to his action, is injury prone, but at least for Siraj, he should be played all matches, if India have to have any chance of staying alive in the series. Moreover, the bowlers are getting a rest of 9-10 days, which should be enough to regain their fitness.
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