With the Indian cricket team taking on England in a five-Test series starting later this week, Jasprit Bumrah has opened up on the infamous 10-ball over he bowled to James Anderson in the Lord’s Test in 2021, a moment that lit a spark for the rest of the series.
Besides bowling four no balls in the over, Bumrah had targetted Anderson with a barrage of bouncers, hitting the tailender on the helmet, ribcage and his left hand.
Anderson has himself admitted that the Bumrah over was “up there for intimidation”.
Giving his version, Bumrah recently told The Guardian that he had tried to check up on Anderson mid-over but did not get a “good response”.
“I was tired, I thought the last wicket was there, I tried to push to bowl fast. I went up to him (mid-over), asked ‘Are you OK?’ and didn’t get a good response. So that brought back some young memories; trying to be the nice guy and it not being taken well. And it triggered the whole team. It was red mist but it was channelled. Fighting and playing is second nature to us; controlling that is self-taught,” said Bumrah, who was bowling his 26th over in the innings and had gone wicketless.
India went on to win that Test by 151 runs, before the five-match series ended 2-2.
Over the course of his career, Bumrah has cultivated a nice guy image on the field, bowling with a good-natured smile instead of the snarl that pace bowlers usually adopt as part of intimidation tactics. But Bumrah revealed that he used to be one of those guys who could get confrontational with batters in his young days.
“As a fast bowler who learned through watching television, I thought that you had to get angry, you had to have a word with the batsman … and when I started playing junior cricket, I was that guy. But in trying to do those antics, I realised that’s not me, that’s not helping me focus on the job in hand. I had to channel my anger because I am a fast bowler, I do get angry. I don’t want to get hit; I’m not here to entertain or give throwdowns, I want wickets, I am here to make you uncomfortable. But I don’t want to lose my shape or my zone.”
Ahead of the first India vs England Test at Hyderabadstarting from Thursday, Bumrah lauded Anderson’s longevity.
“A lot of credit to (Anderson), I can genuinely say I’ve been watching him since I was a child. It’s credit to him (he is still playing at 41), a testament to his hunger and passion. It’s one thing having helpful conditions but to keep doing all that preparation. Skill, technique can be learned but the will to keep going, that’s a big big tick for me,” he said.
