While Indian team management has not named its XI for the Lord’s Test against England, Jasprit Bumrah is all set to play in the third Test match at Lord’s. With India winning the second Test at Edgbaston to level the series 1-1, Bumrah is set to play at Lord’s after being rested for the second Test. With Prasidh Krishna set to be dropped with Akash Deep, who was Bumrah’s replacement in second Test, to be retained along with Mohammad Siraj, Ashwin sees it as a straight swap and has called the Indian bowling attack of Bumrah, Akash Deep and Siraj as ‘Demonic’.
“It’s a straight swap. People can also say Siraj has bowled a lot of overs. So can you rest Siraj? I don’t think Siraj will be rested. Siraj has bowled a lot of overs and his action is not as unique as Bumrah. So, the injury scenario for Siraj is far greater than Siraj. And being 1-1 in the series, Siraj should play. With Siraj, Akashdeep and Bumrah coming in, this Indian attack looks demonic. Demonic is the right word. That looks demonic on a pitch if it has a bit of help. And the Indian bowlers, like Stuart Broad said, Lord’s sees a lot of LBWs anyway. This Indian bowling attack is not a tall one. They will challenge the pads a lot more which will also make sure that edges are also into play,” Ashwin said on his Youtube channel Ash ki Baat.
With England winning the first Test at Headingley by five wickets chasing the target of 371 runs on the final day, the second Test at Headingley saw Indian bowlers led by Akash Deep and Siraj setting the way for India’s win in the test with the duo picking up 17 wickets among themselves. The series has also seen a rare failure by Joe Root, who has just managed 109 runs in four innings in the series this far and Ashwin sees England winning only if Root is able to put a high score in the Test. “This series has been less about Joe Root and more about Shubman Gill. Which is where India is winning. So if we see, England are in a bit of trouble because of the Indian seam attack. So England needs their pace regeneration. England bowling is looking very pedestrian. On the other hand, Joe Root is getting pinned down. Can Joe Root make those runs? If Joe Root makes runs then England have a chance otherwise India are firm favourites going into this Test match,” added Ashwin.
Earlier on Tuesday, Ashwin had also talked about how he sees this England batting line-up not surviving against India even for a day and not being able to survive for a draw in the Bazball era. “England will not be able to draw a Test match after playing a full day. This English batting line-up, there is no chance. Give them two sessions, they will not draw the match. They will get bowled out. In that last test match at Lord’s in 2021. where Virat said ’60 overs of hell,’. That England batting could not last 60 overs. That batting lineup’s defensive technique was not right. These people also don’t have the right defensive technique. It’s even worse than that,” Ashwin had said.
