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"Got To Make Sure We Are Prepared" McCullum Braces Bumrah Challenge Before Lord's Test

Akshita Patel

Brendon McCullum on Jasprit Bumrah's return [Source: @mufaddal_vohra, @CricCrazyJohns/X.com]Brendon McCullum on Jasprit Bumrah's return [Source: @mufaddal_vohra, @CricCrazyJohns/X.com]

England head coach Brendon McCullum has admitted that his team will need to be better prepared for the Lord’s Test, as India’s star pacer Jasprit Bumrah is expected to return. After a heavy 336-run defeat at Edgbaston, McCullum acknowledged that England were second-best in all departments.

The host team faced a massive embarrassment as India registered their first-ever victory at the Edgbaston ground in Birmingham to breach the fortress in style. Shubman Gill and co. won by 336 runs, their biggest margin of victory in overseas Tests.

Brendon McCullum Wary Of Jasprit Bumrah’s Threat

What made the victory even more special was the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. The ace pacer rested due to workload concerns, and Akash Deep stepped up to claim a 10-wicket match haul. Siraj also grabbed a fifer in the first inning to support the youngster.

Meanwhile, Bumrah is expected to return to the mix in the third Test at Lord’s Cricket Ground, which is a matter of concern for England. Head coach Brendon McCullum, talking to ESPN Cricinfo, admitted that his side must be well prepared for the big challenge.

“Bumrah will more than likely come back in for the next one, so we’ve just got to make sure we’re well planned and well prepared and ready for the next challenge. It (Lord’s) will be quite different I imagine to this (Edgbaston) surface and that’s probably a good thing for us," McCullum said.

The coach was also honest in his assessment of England’s performance, saying India outplayed them from start to finish. 

"We ran second for five days. I thought India played exceptionally well. Shubman Gill was at an elite level and played brilliantly on this pitch. We weren’t quite able to play how we wanted to on it and they thoroughly deserved to win,” he added.

Bumrah To Return For Lord’s Test, Confirms Shubman Gill

Following India’s 336-run victory in Edgbaston, Indian Test captain Shubman Gill confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah will return to the playing XI in the third Test at Lord’s. As part of his workload management plan, he rested for the second Test but won’t miss bowling at the iconic stadium of Lord’s.

As for replacement, the Indian team management must now decide between Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna to accommodate Bumrah while continuing with their preferred three-seamer strategy.

Both Siraj and Akash Deep performed well in Edgbaston, while Krishna conceded runs at a high economy rate of 5.34. Hence, he is likely the one to make way for Bumrah.