With Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah playing only in three Test matches in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy due to the workload management by the Indian team, it meant that Bumrah could not feature in a full Test series in England for the first time in his career. Bumrah, who had taken 32 wickets in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year and was the leading wicket-taker of the series, had suffered a back injury during the final Test at Sydney in Border Gavaskar Trophy and the Indian team management has been considering his workload management post his recovery. Former Australian captain Michale Clarke has shared how he believes any team with Bumrah is a ‘better team’.
“To win the last match and level the series. Wow! Phenomenal, absolutely brilliant. And the other thing as well. In the two Test matches that India won, the best bowler in the world didn’t play in (Jasprit) Bumrah. Bumrah didn’t play the two Test matches that India won. So, to the other bowlers in the Indian squad, they deserve a lot of credit to be able to step up. And I do believe, and I don’t think anybody would say differently, any team with Bumrah in it is a better team. But to be able to win those two matches without him, that bowling attack deserves a lot of credit,” Clarke said on Beyond23 Cricket Podcast.
With Bumrah not playing the final Test at The Oval, Mohammed Siraj led the Indian bowling attack and took nine wickets in the match with a five-wicket haul in the final innings. Siraj ended up with a total of 23 wickets in the series and his feat also meant that he matched Bumrah’s tally of 23 wickets taken in the last India series in England in 2021-22. Siraj also became only the eighth opposition bowler to take a five-wicket haul in the second innings at The Oval against England with West Indies legend Michael Holding being the last such bowler to take a five-wicket haul in the second innings at The Oval in 1984. Siraj bowled 185.3 overs in the series taking 23 wickets and had earlier taken 20 wickets in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Clarke praised Siraj for his attitude and fight. “India bowling again, Krishna, Siraj. Wow! I feel like every time Bumrah is not around, Siraj has this – ‘I’ve got to stand up’ mindset and attitude. He wants the ball when the team is under pressure. I feel like he’s a better bowler when there is more expectation and pressure put on his shoulders. I think he really enjoys that role in the team. Fifer in the second innings, just to keep it going,” Clarke added.
With England needing 35 runs on the final day of the final Test at the Oval with four wickets in hand, Siraj had taken wickets of Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton and Gus Atkinson to hand India a memorable six-run win to level the series. Former England captain Nasser Hussain too had praised Siraj for his effort. “It would have been a travesty had England won the series 3-1. India deserved to make it 2-2 for the amount of good cricket they have played in this series. The final scoreline was well and truly deserved by India, and it was very fitting for Siraj to get the final wicket,” Hussain told Sky Cricket.
