Team India is gearing up to host Ben Stokes’ England in five Tests, starting Thursday in Hyderabad. The teams have set their bases in the capital city of Telangana state where they are sweating it out for what would be a cracking contest between two giants of Test cricket. Ahead of the series opener, ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah recalled his fierce encounter with English quick James Anderson in the Lord’s Test in 2021 which India won by 151 runs.
After a record 89-run unbeaten partnership with Mohammad Shami for the 9th wicket, Bumrah returned 3 for 33 in just 15 overs. But his match-up with Anderson was something that caught everyone’s attention. With only one wicket remaining to win the game, Bumrah targetted the veteran Englishmen with a barrage of short balls. In the 26th over of the final innings, the Indian quick conceded 4 no-balls but managed to hit Anderson on the helmet, ribcage and his left hand.
Describing the incident, Anderson had said that Bumrah was ‘up there for intimidation’. However, the latter recently spoke to The Guardian, giving his version of the story where he stated that he tried checking up on Anderson 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, 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.
The 30-year-old has always carried a calm and composed demeanour on the field and doesn’t get involved in on-field banters with opponents. However, he revealed that it wasn’t the case in his young days. With time, he realized that being confrontational with batters wasn’t helping him focus on his game.
“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.”
‘Watching Anderson playing since childhood’
Bumrah further praised Anderson’s ‘hunger and passion’ which inspired him to play the sports event at the age of 41.
“A lot of credit to (Anderson), I can genuinely say I’ve been watching him since I was a child. It’s a credit to him (he is still playing at 41), a testament to his hunger and passion. It’s one thing to have helpful conditions but to keep doing all that preparation. Skill, and technique can be learned but the will to keep going, that’s a big big tick for me,” he said.
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