• Home
  • Cricket News
  • Explained Why Jasprit Bumrah Could Decide To Skip The Edgbaston Test Vs England

Explained: Why Jasprit Bumrah Could Decide To Skip The Edgbaston Test Vs England

Anurag Dasgupta

Why Bumrah could skip 2nd Test [Source: AP Photo]Why Bumrah could skip 2nd Test [Source: AP Photo]

The first Test in Headingley is done and dusted as India lost from the winning position and surrendered on Day 5 of the Headingley Test. England needed 350 runs on Day 5 to take the lead in the series, and they did in some style as Ben Duckett scored a brilliant 149 and helped England cruise past the winning line.

India had plenty of problems in the first Test - lower-order failure, and bowling woes. However, ahead of the second Test at Edgbaston, India have one main issue and that is Jasprit Bumrah.

Even before the start of the tour, star pacer, Jasprit Bumrah decided that he would play only 3 Test matches on the England tour. This was due to the workload management issues and to prevent his back injury. The ace seamer has already played one Test on the tour and only has two more opportunities left.

There is a good chance that he'll skip the Edgbaston Test and here are two main reasons for it.

1) Edgbaston to dish out a flat surface, no help for bowlers

If the rumours are to be believed and the Headingley pitch is to be looked at, then a conclusion can be drawn - Edgbaston will dish out a flat wicket with plenty of runs to be scored. Headingley, where the first Test match was played was historically a bowling paradise but to support England's Bazball approach, the curator gave a batting pitch.

In the Headingley Test, on a pitch with no help for the seamers, Bumrah picked up a fifer in the first innings but also bowled 44 overs in the entire game, which is equivalent to bowling in 11 IPL matches. If the Edgbaston surface will also favour the batters then there is no need for Bumrah to toil hard. He can rest, get charged up and be ready for the third game.

2) No gap between 2nd and 3rd Test match - workload management issue

The second Test begins on July 2 and concludes on June 6. This will leave Bumrah with only three days to recover before the third Test at Lord's kick-off on June 10.

If Bumrah plays at Edgbaston, a three-day gap won't be enough for him to recover for the next game and his availability is crucial at Lord's. The pitch at Lord's - the venue for the 3rd Test is perhaps the only stadium where pacers will get help on this tour. Hence, it won't be a wise decision to make him sit out at that venue.

India needs its best bowler at Lord's and hence, he could sit out at Edgbaston to get match-fit for 3rd Test.