IND vs ENG | Jasprit Bumrah’s impressive spell won the game for India, opines David Gower
Former England cricketer David Gower has stated that Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliant spell in the fourth Test at the Oval won the game for India. He further added that hosts could have batted for a draw in the match, but Bumrah with his fierce deliveries added the pressure to troubled the batsman.
The fifth and final Test between India and England was cancelled due to uprising Covid-19 concerns in the Indian camp. Earlier, India won the matches at Lords and the Oval, to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match Test series. The Oval Test witnessed a brilliant batting display by the Indian contingent and later fierce bowling by the bowlers. Bumrah lead the pace attack as he troubled the English batsman while they batted for a draw in the fourth Test.
David Gower, while speaking to Cricket.com, stated that among bowlers three names were excellent with their spells -Â James Anderson, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ollie Robinson. He further added that he would like to pick Bumrah as the best of the series considering his impressive performance in overseas conditions.
"Those are the ones in contention (Bumrah, Robinson, Anderson). Everyone else had their ups and downs but they were the three who consistently bowled well. It’s a tricky choice to have to make. I would love to say Jimmy because he proved himself again at that certain age – he is approaching 40 – there is still an ability, the fitness that makes him a unique animal. But I think I am just going to go with Bumrah," Gower told Cricket.com.
Bumrah picked 18 wickets from seven innings with an average of 20.83 which is only bettered by Ollie Robinson with his 21 scalps in the series. During the fourth Test, Bumrah bowled an impressive spell with the old Dukes ball, which aided him with great reverse swing in the final innings at The Oval. He clinched the crucial wickets of Ollie Pope and Jonny Bairstow to seal the game for India.
Gower asserted that Bumrah’s brilliant spell in the final innings won the game for India. He further added that he is highly impressed with Bumrah’s performance in the series.
"For instance, that final day at The Oval, in the context of where we are now… England could have batted out. It could have been 1-1, but the difference was that Jadeja bowled into the rough and Bumrah produced just the perfect spell. The two of them just cruised through that middle and lower order as they did on the final day was spectacular," Gower added.
"What a way to win a Test match from a lowly start on Day 1. I'm just thinking that spells like that one where you end up winning games, that’s important. So, I'm just going to shade in and give it to Bumrah."