Who should replace Jasprit Bumrah if he is rested?’
With the Indian spearhead more or less set to be rested for the second Test at Edgbaston, the think-tank has massive shoes to fill. So, who are the options that India could look at? Just scroll through the names of the squad selected for the five-match Test tour, and it won’t take long to gauge that Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep are the two options who would come into the fray. Let’s analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the two above-mentioned pace bowlers.
Arshdeep – The pace bowler has an extra attribute over his Bengal teammate, and that is the left-arm angle. Over the past many years, across formats, we have seen the angle troubling numerous right-hand batters from over the wicket. Sometimes, a right-hander has to even open up his stance in order to negate the threat of the angle. The pace bowler can also swing the new ball both ways. The trajectory of his offerings also suggest that he has the trait of finding late movement. The left-arm pacer also will create enough rough from the over-the-wicket angle for the spinners to work with in the final innings.
Despite possessing some of the skills required to make a name for himself in the Test arena, Arshdeep still has to improve on certain aspects of his game. One of them could be his old-ball skills. It is true that Arshdeep generates a hint of reverse swing. But there is also a school of thought that says he isn’t exactly good at pulling the length back when the ball stops swinging for him. That could be a reason why Arshdeep averaged 41.76 while playing for Kent in County cricket. His first-class average also makes for a modest reading – 66 wickets at 30.37.
Akash Deep – The other Deep in the squad also has enough artillery in his quiver to perform well in Test cricket. When in rhythm, the skiddy pacer can touch 140 kph or go over it. Akash does have a good nip-backer. In addition to it, the speedster seems to be comfortable with bowling from round the wicket to left-handers; mostly dismissing the batters LBW or bowled from that angle.
Statistically, too, Akash prefers the bowled or lbw mode of dismissal, exemplified by the fact that eight of his 15 wickets have come that way. On the flip side, he tends to bowl it a tad shorter – around back-of-a-length or good length area. The resultant outcome is that he ends up beating the bat often. One of the reasons for his rather modest average of 54 in Australia was his tendency to not bowl full enough.
Verdict – The Indian coaching staff would have a tricky choice to make between the two. Logically, they could go for Arshdeep over Akash, with the left-arm angle turning out to be the decisive factor. Even if Arshdeep gets preferred over Akash, the latter can still secure a place in the playing XI if the selectors feel that Prasidh Krishna needs to be replaced.