After a captivating second day of the Leeds Test between India and England, Ben Duckett, England’s opening batsman, spoke highly of Indian pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah. The day was marked by dramatic shifts, from Rishabh Pant’s impressive century and India’s surprising batting collapse to England’s commanding batting display.
England managed to assert themselves throughout a large portion of the day, largely thanks to Pope’s composed and dignified innings. He scored his ninth Test century and his second against India, playing at the vital No. 3 position.
Speaking about Bumrah, Duckett didn’t hesitate to call him the “best bowler in the world.” He acknowledged Bumrah’s success in various conditions, highlighting the difficulty of facing him on any pitch or in any weather.
“He is good in India on the flattest pitches ever, and you know when he is coming in down the hill with the lights on and it is swinging both ways, it is tough, and I feel like we minimise the damage early on. You know, it could have been a lot worse today, so I think we are pretty happy in the position we’re in,” he stated.
“First of all, how unique his run-up is. You are obviously waiting and waiting for him to get there, um, and I think just his ability to bowl three or four different balls with no cue. You do not know he is bowling a bouncer or a slower ball or an outswinger or an inswinger until it comes out of his hand, really. He has got such a fast wrist. So that is why you have got to watch the ball so hard with him,” he further mentioned.