Morne Morkel provides crucial fitness update on Jasprit Bumrah after injury scare for pacer on Day 2 of BGT 2024-25 2nd Test
Team India's bowling coach Morne Morkel provided a fitness update on lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah after he suffered an injury scare on Day 2 of the 2nd BGT 2024-25 Test in Adelaide on Saturday, December 7. The former Proteas pacer assured that there is nothing to worry about.
Bumrah pulled up during the 81st over of Australia's first innings and was attended by the team’s physio. Speaking on air, Ravi Shastri said the bowler is holding his adductor muscle, which is not a good sign.
At a press conference following Day 2 of the pink-ball Test against Australia, Morkel was asked about the nature of Bumrah's injury. He replied (as quoted as saying by India Today):
“Firstly with Bumrah, he's fine, it was just this cramp. Yeah, even because after that, you know, he bowled and you got the wickets twice."
After some treatment, the right-arm pacer completed his over and finished with figures of 4-61 from 23 overs. Bumrah dismissed Usman Khawaja (13), Nathan McSweeney (39), Steven Smith (2), and Pat Cummins (12) in Australia's first innings. Mohammed Siraj also claimed four wickets but proved expensive as he went for 98 runs in 24.3 overs.
“At times, we were a touch wide" - Morne Morkel admits India erred with the ball
While Bumrah was once again the standout bowler for India, the Australians came up with an impressive batting effort to post 337 in their first innings. Travis Head (140 off 141) was the visitors' nemesis again, smashing 17 fours and four sixes.
Morkel acknowledged that India's bowlers did not get it right with the ball.
“In the first Test match, our lines and lengths were exceptional, and I think that was the blueprint going for us, into this Test series. We wanted to bring stumps into play as much as we can, and I felt that last night with the ball moving around a bit. We missed that, we were slightly off the mark in finding the right length,” the former South African fast bowler said (as quoted by ICC).
The 40-year-old explained that hitting the right areas has brought success to pace bowlers in day-night Tests, which Australia demonstrated on Day 2.
“At times, we [India in the first innings] were a touch wide, so we allowed the guys to leave a lot of balls. If you look at the history of pink ball Tests, that time of night if you bowl [in those areas], then you can pick up wickets,” Morkel added.
India went to stumps on Day 2 of the pink-ball Test at 128-5. They still trail Australia by 29 runs, with only five wickets left. At the close of play, Rishabh Pant was batting on 28 and Nitish Kumar Reddy on 15.