Team India’s pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s availability remains the main talking point ahead of the second Test against England, starting on 2 July. Speaking on the Wisden Cricket Weekly Podcast, former England batter Mark Butcher shared his thoughts on Bumrah’s participation, stating that the six-day break between the first and second Tests might be enough for him to continue playing.
“Bumrah is going to be a huge talking point as to whether or not this is one of his three Test matches. I think it has to be, it absolutely has to be. Six-day break after Headingley, 1-0 down, he plays. I know he wants to play at Lord’s but the needs of the team and the series are more important than his wish to play a Test at Lord’s,” Butcher said.
He further pointed out that Bumrah’s personal wish to feature at Lord’s should not take priority over the team’s current needs. “And who knows, he might get through this one okay and be fine for Lord’s, and then you take your chances at the back-end,” he added.
“A left-arm swing bowler is also perhaps an option.” – Butcher
Butcher also suggested that India should keep their bowling options open, recommending the inclusion of left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh or spinner Kuldeep Yadav as replacements for Prasidh Krishna. He also commented on the underwhelming performance of Shardul Thakur.
“A left-arm swing bowler is also perhaps an option. If Arshdeep [Singh] comes in, I think Prasidh Krishna was found wanting… If you can manage it, you go Siraj, Bumrah, Arshdeep, Kuldeep, Jadeja, and you take the cards where they fall with your batting. Simply because – I said it at the time during the first Test match – I couldn’t see how Shardul was going to make enough runs to make up for his lack of potency with the ball,” he concluded.
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