Jasprit Bumrah claimed his maiden five-wicket haul at Lord’s, earning a place on the prestigious honors board at the iconic venue. However, following the end of day two of the ongoing third Test between India and England at Lord’s, the Indian pacer refrained from commenting on the condition of the Dukes ball, which had stirred controversy earlier in the day.
During the morning session, the Indian team appeared frustrated with the quality of the replacement ball, leading to a heated exchange between captain Shubman Gill and the on-field umpires. The change seemingly disrupted India’s rhythm, allowing England batters Jamie Smith and Brydon Carse to capitalize on the moment. The pair stitched together a crucial 84-run stand, helping England push their first-innings total past 350.
When questioned about the ball controversy, Jasprit Bumrah chose to steer clear of criticism. He joked that he didn’t want to risk losing any match fees, highlighting how hard he works as a bowler.
“I don’t control the ball changes. I’ve bowled a lot of overs and worked really hard, so I don’t want to say anything controversial and end up with a fine,” Jasprit Bumrah said in the post-day press conference. “We were given a ball, and we had to bowl with it. Sometimes it works in your favor, sometimes it doesn’t. That’s part of the game.”
Despite finishing with figures of 5 for 74, Bumrah’s efforts were somewhat overshadowed as the softer replacement ball allowed Smith and Carse to notch up fifties. Their contributions played a key role in England posting a competitive total of 387 in their first innings.
Jasprit Bumrah Reflects on Ball Conditions During England Tour
Jasprit Bumrah pointed out a key difference between the current tour of England and previous ones — the ball. He remarked that in earlier visits, the Dukes ball remained hard for longer periods and was rarely changed, maintaining its effectiveness throughout the innings.
“This time, it’s different,” Jasprit Bumrah noted. “On past tours, the ball hardly ever needed to be changed. It used to stay hard for a long time. But now, with the unusually dry English summer and harder pitches, the ball is softening much quicker.”
He explained that the dry conditions are having a significant impact: “This is a hard-ball game. When the ball is hard, you get movement and assistance. But once it goes soft, it becomes easier for the batters. That’s the biggest difference I’ve noticed compared to previous tours.”
Despite the challenges, Jasprit Bumrah delivered a stellar performance, claiming his 15th five-wicket haul in Test cricket — and his first at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground — earning him a place on the Lord’s honors board.
