India's Assistant Head Coach gives massive update on Bumrah's availability for the Edgbaston Test
The Indian speedster looks all set to play in the second Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, but a final decision is awaited.
The second Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy between India and England nears kick-off. With less than 48 hours to go, Indian star pacer Jasprit Bumrah has already started making waves. Prior to the tour, it was made public that Bumrah would only take part in three out of five Test matches. This eventually led to the creation of uncertainty around his participation in the upcoming Edgbaston Test.
But much to the relief of everyone, Indian men’s cricket team assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate puts all those notions to rest. In a recent press conference held on Monday, Ten Doeschate confirmed that Bumrah will be available for the second Test, but added that a final decision will be taken in line with his existing workload and prevailing conditions at the venue.
“Bumrah is available for the game. We knew from the start he would play only 3 out of the 5 Tests. He’s had 8 days to recover from the last match, but considering the conditions and his workload, we haven’t made a final decision yet. We also need to assess the other players’ workloads. So technically, yes, he is available, but we haven’t decided if he will play."
See also: England announce playing XI for 2nd Test against India at Edgbaston in Birmingham
Will we see Bumrah in the second Test?
Previous reports suggested that Bumrah was likely to miss out on the Edgbaston Test. The Indian management seemed to be more inclined to preserving Bumrah's energy reserves and keeping him fresh for the Lord's Test. As India look to make a comeback from the Headingly Test, Bumrah's presence becomes indispensable, especially in a venue like Edgbaston where India has never tasted victory.
Bumrah, who is presently leading the ICC Bowlers Rankings, is regarded as one of the finest operators in world cricket. Without him, the Indian bowling contingent seems less formidable, as Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur, and Mohammed Siraj have faced challenges with consistency and have allowed runs to be scored easily.
During the first Test, it was Bumrah who had the most impact with the ball. He announced his arrival with a sensational five-fer to help India eke out a narrow six-run lead. Unfortunately, the Indian pace master went wicketless in the second innings, which severely hampered India's chances of emerging victorious in the first Test.
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