Agnijit Sen at the MCG
Imagine you are the best fast bowler in the world. You instil fear in the minds of your opposition the moment you mark your run-up. You are in their heads. Suddenly, a 19-year-old teenager takes you on. Misses the first few. You offer a smile. You know you’ll eventually get him. Out of nowhere, you go for 14 runs in one over and 18 in another. Sam Konstas laps, reverse-scoops, makes room and pummels you all around the park.
What would your mindset be? More importantly, what would your team do now? Very casually, the teenager gives an interview in the middle of the match. He says he would love to take you on once again. This contest marked the opening session of the Boxing Day Test between India and Australia.
Konstas vs Jasprit Bumrah round 1. Won by Konstas, fair and square. As a result of Konstas’s fiery knock and valuable contributions from Australia’s top order, they reach 237/2 at one point of time. In the meantime, Bumrah has got rid of Usman Khawaja, but that was with a rank loose ball. Even Bumrah broke into a smile after that dismissal.
Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith looking well-set and ominous. The much-debated selection, Washington Sundar, comes in the attack and takes out Labuschagne. In walks Travis Head at No. 5. Head, the man with consecutive Player of the match awards in the last two tests against India. Twin daddy hundreds leading up to this Boxing Day Test. Immediately, Rohit Sharma turns to his trump card, Bumrah. Today, Bumrah’s first spell read: 38 runs in 6 overs without a wicket.
First ball, Steve Smith pinches 3 runs due to a misfield from Mohammad Siraj. Head vs Bumrah now. Exactly what Rohit wanted. First ball angling down leg, Head misses a flick. Bumrah goes back to his bowling mark. Takes a breather. Starts running in again. Delivers the ball full steam. Perfect line to leave, Head is all but certain and he shoulders arms, like any batsman would do. Head did absolutely nothing wrong. But wait, if Head is Voldemort, Bumrah is no less than Albus Dumbledore of Hogwarts. The ball pitches on the perfect length, makes a wicked inward deviation off the seam, and clips top of off stump. Dream, dream ball for any fast bowler.And mind you, this was a red Kookaburra ball that was 67 overs old.
Head, by far the most in-form batter in the series, walks back puzzled and disappointed. But that was just the start. The next batter, Mitchell Marsh, somehow survived the last three balls of the over and was squared up on a couple of occasions. Terrific line, perfect length and seam movement.
Next over, Marsh is back on strike. Third ball of the over, he creams a drive through covers. Immediately, Bumrah hits the hard length. The ball bounces awkwardly, keeps climbing, and Marsh is unable to keep it down as it lobs up towards gully. Doesn’t carry though. But it does enough to create doubts in Marsh’s mind. He has been short of runs this entire series. He knows it. So does Bumrah. So what does Bumrah do? Tries something fancy? No. Keeps it simple, exactly what he has been doing this entire series. Last ball of the over. This time not the hard length. Not that bounce. But not short enough to pull either. Marsh tries to drag it from outside off and edges it to Rishabh Pant. So, what does this do?
At the end of the day: 21-7-75-3. The wickets of Khawaja, Head and Marsh. Add to this, the second new ball has been taken. A fresh Bumrah will run in tomorrow morning ready to take out Smith and the rest.
This is what makes the man so so special. It’s one thing having plans, it’s a completely different thing to execute them at the highest level. To do that repeatedly, relentlessly.
And what does he do when he’s successful? Just a slight shrug of shoulders, small celebration with teammates and off he goes to his bowling mark once again. Ready to weave another magical spell. Ready to re-establish the fact that Jasprit Bumrah is by far the greatest fast bowler India has ever produced. Maybe, Bumrah will raise a silent toast to Siraj for the misfield today. What a game-changer that turned out to be. After all, ‘We all believe in Jassi bhai. Game-changer player he is!’
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The Australians in the huge #BoxingDay crowd expected another virtuoso knock from #TravisHead, but a moment of brilliance from #JaspritBumrah sent him on his way, and dragged into back into the contest after the early Konstas blows.@BoriaMajumdar writeshttps://t.co/iSmKOnDUAJ
— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) December 26, 2024
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