Bumrah likely for fourth Test - but workload management questions remain
The availability, or not, of Jasprit Bumrah has made the term 'workload management' part of the cricket fan's everyday vocabulary during India's tour of England in 2025. It was known well before the series that Bumrah would play only three out of the five Tests. There was a faint chance of that number rising to four if one of the games was either heavily affected by rain, or finished very quickly. But all three Tests played so far have gone into the fifth day, rendering that possibility more distant.
India are trailing 2-1, despite having achieved dominant positions in all three Tests at various points. Bumrah played the third Test, but there is an eight-day gap before the fourth Test starts, and assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate indicated that since this was a must-win game if India are to win the series, Bumrah was more likely to play in the fourth Test, which will begin in Manchester from July 23.
'We'll make that call in Manchester,' Doeschate said after an India training session in Beckenham. 'We know we've got him for one of the last two Tests. I think it's pretty obvious that the series on the line now in Manchester, so there will be a leaning towards playing him.
'But, again, we're gonna look at all the factors. How many days of of cricket are we going to get up there, what do we feel is our best chance of winning that game, and then how that fits in together with The Oval (the venue of the final Test) and and looking at the last two games holistically as part of the series.'
While Bumrah is undoubtedly India's most important player, England's most vital player is their captain Ben Stokes. Just like Bumrah, workload management has been an issue with Stokes too. He's had to battle injuries in his career, again, like Bumrah. He has the ability to produce magic at any point in a game and turn it, as Bumrah does.
But during this series, Stokes' workload has been remarkable. He bowled 44 overs in the third Test at Lord's, and across three Tests, he has delivered 105 overs. And he has given it his all on every ball of every over bowled. Across three Tests, he has been England's best bowler in fact. And this is in addition to his batting and captaincy load.
When asked about his thoughts on workload management given Stokes' showing, particularly on Day 5 of the Lord's Test when he bowled extended spells, Doeschate said the situations were different.
'That was super impressive, for Ben to come out on the last day and bowl the amount of overs he did with the intensity he did and, obviously, bats and fields as well,' Doeschate said. 'We're not here to compare our bowlers to individuals from other teams. We have our own strengths.
'We know what particularly Jasprit does in shorter spells, which he prefers bowling in.'
The reason the Ben Stokes workload argument doesn't work for Bumrah is because they both had to come back from different injuries. Bumrah's unique bowling action puts more of a strain on his back, and those are notoriously difficult injuries to manage and rehab from.
Stokes' issue was more with his knees. How he has managed that is by shedding weight and having artificial cartilages inserted via knee surgery. The leaner frame means there is less load that the knees have to bear, which has allowed Stokes to bowl with a lot more intensity and a lot longer than he could have previously.
Which is why as Doeschate said, 'Not everyone has to be the same, and we feel that, in consultation with Jasprit, how we use him is the best way for the team.'
More crucially, as India showed in the second Test, they have the personnel to win a game even without Bumrah. They are undoubtedly a better team with Bumrah in it - as any team in the world would be - but there is enough talent in the squad to take the 20 wickets required for a Test match win.
Whether or not Bumrah plays, that should be the Indian team's focus.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
‘Look at his pace': Ricky Ponting slams Jasprit Bumrah for not bowling at full potential in 4th Test
Ricky Ponting has criticised Jasprit Bumrah's reduced pace in the 4th Test against England, saying the long series has taken a toll on India's bowling attack. England dominated with 669 runs as Ben Stokes scored 141, leaving India trailing by 137 runs ahead of Day 5. read more India pacer Jasprit Bumrah is second on the list of leading wicket-takers in the ongoing Test series in England with 14 wickets despite being rested for one match. Reuters Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has questioned Jasprit Bumrah's effectiveness in the ongoing fourth Test against England, saying the Indian pace spearhead hasn't been at his best. Speaking on Sky Sports, Ponting said that playing so many matches in the series has made things tough for Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, adding that it has started to take its toll on them. Bumrah, Siraj criticised by Ponting Ponting also pointed out that Bumrah's pace had significantly dropped in this Test, but he credited the English openers for putting him on the back foot from the start. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett put on a quickfire 166-run partnership stand on Day 2 of this Test before players like Joe Root, Ben Stokes, and Ollie Pope took over. Ponting believes they put Indian bowlers under a lot of pressure. 'That's why the game's called Test Cricket. Yeah, it is a test. It's a physical test, it's a mental test and a challenge. There was always concerns about Bumrah and Siraj really getting through this Test Series with as many games under their belt as possible. You know, this is, I think, the fourth game now for Siraj. So, yeah, they're starting to take its toll. There's no doubt about that,' Ponting said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Bumrah did look a bit flat right from the start of this game, to be honest. You look at his pace. His pace has been sort of 82, 83 miles an hour on average right the way through this game, which is probably three or four or five miles down on what he normally is. But you've got to give credit to the England batters as well. I thought Duckett and Crawley at the top really put this Indian bowling attack under a lot of pressure from the start,' he added. England piled on 669 runs in the first innings, with Ben Stokes leading the charge with a brilliant 141. Bumrah picked up just two wickets for 112 runs, while Siraj took one for 140 runs. Ravindra Jadeja was the pick of the bowlers for India as he took four wickets under his belt. Washington Sundar took two, while debutant Anshul Kamboj returned with one. Also Read: IND vs ENG, 4th Test: Will rain help India on Day 5 in must-win clash in Manchester? India now face a massive task to save the Test as they are still trailing by 137 runs with eight wickets remaining heading into the final day.
Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
‘Ben Stokes is preserving himself for Day 5, likely to see one burst from him when needed': Ravi Shastri
England skipper Ben Stokes, who was having hamstring issues and yet scored a match-defining knock of 141 runs against India in the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in Manchester, did not come up to bowl in the second innings. The English all-rounder had picked a five-wicket haul in the first innings and former India captain Ravi Shastri believes Stokes is keeping himself available to bowl on a crucial Day 5. 'You mentioned Stokes – I think he's preserving himself for tomorrow. There'll be one burst from him tomorrow when needed and when he thinks, you know, now's the time to really bowl those five or six overs, he'll come and bowl it,' said Shastri to Sky Sports. 'It's a new ball track. When it's hard and new, things happen quickly, especially with these overhead conditions. When it's overcast, you get your best chance for movement. With a new ball, there's opportunity, but once the sun comes out and the ball's 10-15 overs old, it becomes a very good batting track. If England wants to make an impact, they need to strike in that first hour, then wait for the second new ball,' he added. India is looking to save the fourth Test as the visitors, trailing by over 300 runs after the first innings, were two down for no score. From there, skipper Shubman Gill and opener KL Rahul stayed in the middle for two entire sessions, giving India a glimmer of hope to save the Test by scoring an unbeaten stand of 174 for the third wicket. With a fine century on Saturday, Stokes became only the fourth England cricketer to have scored a century and taken a five-wicket haul in the same Test match. Stokes, who had claimed five wickets for 72 runs during India's first innings in the match, matched the feat achieved by Tony Greig, Ian Botham and Gus Atkinson for England previously. On Stokes not bowling in the second innings, former England captain Nasser Hussain said: 'The fact that he hasn't bowled at all tells us something. We all know Ben Stokes. If it were just cramp or stiffness, he'd test it out. But seeing him check that hamstring area – that's not a new injury. He's clearly had problems there before. Honestly, you could argue he shouldn't even be on the field given his importance to the team.' 'England's problem is that Stokes has to play every game as captain. While others like Archer get rotated or Bumrah plays three, Stokes has to play in all five Test. And in those five, he has to bat. He has to bowl. He's doing it so well that he's going to be absolutely exhausted,' he added.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Jasprit Bumrahs Historic Streak Ends After 47 Tests As India Struggles In Manchester
India's premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah saw one of the most remarkable streaks of his Test career come to an end during the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford. For the first time in 47 Tests, Bumrah conceded over 100 runs in a single innings, finishing with figures of 2/112 from 33 overs as England posted a monumental total of 669 runs in their first innings. A Rare Off Day for India's Spearhead Bumrah, who has been India's most consistent wicket-taker in the longest format, has built a reputation for relentless accuracy and control. Before this match, the 31-year-old had never allowed 100 or more runs in a Test innings, a record unmatched by any Indian fast bowler in the modern era. England's aggressive batting approach, led by Ben Stokes' masterful 141, broke that streak. Bumrah's economy rate crept over three runs per over as the English batters counter-attacked effectively, forcing him to bowl long spells in testing conditions. India's Bowling Struggles India's bowlers, including Bumrah, endured a torrid time as England piled up runs relentlessly. Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja also went for plenty as Stokes, Ollie Pope, and Zak Crawley powered England to a commanding first-innings lead of 311 runs. Bumrah did achieve a personal milestone during the innings by equalling Ishant Sharma's record of 51 Test wickets in England, becoming only the third Asian bowler after Wasim Akram and Ishant to reach the milestone. What Lies Ahead? Shubman Gill and KL Rahul put on an unbroken 174-run stand after India collapsed to 0/2, taking the team to 174/2 at stumps. Rahul's composed 87* off 172 balls and Gill's fluent strokeplay marked India's highest-ever partnership after such a start, cutting England's lead to 137 runs and displaying remarkable resilience against a challenging English attack. India will resume Day 5 at 174/2, still trailing by 137 runs but with hopes of salvaging a draw or even pushing for an improbable victory if their middle order steps up. England, on the other hand, will be desperate for early breakthroughs to seal the series.
