England’s Bazaball successfully debunked India’s spin-to-win theory in the opening Test in Hyderabad. When a fairly rookie batting attack made India’s most threatening spin duo looked ordinary, there was only one question which popped into 1.4 billion people’s mind – Who can stop Bazball?
While many fans and pundits pinned their hopes on Kuldeep Yadav’s spin, it was Jasprit Bumrah‘s pace who led India’s counter punch in Vizag Test on Saturday.
While his threat in the first session was neutralised by Zack Crawley’s aggression and Ben Duckett’s luck, post lunch, Bumrah displayed the best version of himself which even the Bazball couldn’t counter.
Bumrah’s reverse-swing masterclass swings game in India’s way
Bumrah bowled four overs in his first spell but went for 24 runs, 16 of which came in a single over when Crawley hit three authoritative boundaries.
However, the moment the ball started reverse-swinging, it was time for Bumrah’s ‘Boom Boom’.
The pacer set the perfect trap for the likes of Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow and Ollie Pope by getting the ball to move both ways.
Root and Bairstow fell victim to skillful outswingers, but the previous match centurion, Ollie Pope, faced what could arguably be deemed the ‘ball of the series’—a fiery yorker that destroyed the stumps.
His second spell was of six overs which yielded 3 wickets.
He next received a SOS when Ben Stokes started his counter attack against Ashwin and Kuldeep. The pacer then produced another moment of magic to get the England skipper which just tiled the game towards India.
The 30-year-old then bowled short spells to get the final two wickets and make it India’s day.
He ended with figures of 6/45 in 15.5 overs, his third-best figures in Tests, and the best by an Indian pacer on home soil.
With team trailing 0-1 behind, and spinners being clueless against Bazball, Bumrah’s spell could be and should be considered the best Test spell by a fast bowler on Indian soil. The pacer’s spell stands out for its impact, quality, and difficulty. It was a spell that changed the course of the match and quiet possibly the series.
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