McCullum acnowledges Bumrah’s threat ahead of 3rd Test. Jasprit Bumrah named Player of the Match in Visakhapatnam after scooping up nine wickets.
Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was at his imperious best during the second Test against England in Visakhapatnam, helping the hosts win by 106 runs and recording his second-highest match stats. The 30-year-old took his second five-wicket haul in the first innings, scoring 6/45 in 15.5 overs. He went on to take three more wickets in the second innings, finishing with his second-best career statistics of 9/91.
Following his stunning performance, Bumrah was named Player of the Match over double-centurion Yashasvi Jaiswal. Following the Indian bowler’s match-winning effort, England’s head coach Brendon McCullum praised the fast bowler and added that they needed to find strategies to counter him.
Bumrah bowled an excellent reverse swing spell. Our men have so much potential and quality; it’s just a matter of giving them the confidence to make decisions and fully commit to their objectives. We need to come up with some countermeasures. “It will not be a group discussion,” head coach McCullum told BBC Sport.
Notably, Bumrah dismantled the England batting order in the first innings claiming big scalps of Joe Root, Ollie Pope, Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes. He further dismissed Bairstow in the second innings as well along with Ben Foakes and Tom Hartley.
Further speaking ahead, McCullum expressed excitement for the remaining three games with the series tied 1-1.
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It’s going to be one hell of a series: McCullum
“What distinguishes a great battle is the disparity in styles and the conviction in those methods. We have witnessed that both teams will give as good as they receive. I’m sure everyone across the world who has backed this series so far has been completely entertained and enthralled by the contest, and 1-1 is probably a fair depiction of where it stands right now. If the next three Tests are anything like the last two, it’s going to be an incredible series,” he said.
Meanwhile, both teams have a nine-day break before the third Test, which will begin on February 15 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot. The England squad has traveled to Abu Dhabi to rest before the third Test, while India will announce their selection for the remaining three matches in the coming days.
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