"That actually gave some secrets away to everyone" - Former Australia pacer speculates Jasprit Bumrah injury ahead of BGT 2024-25 3rd Test
Former Australia pacer Damien Fleming suspects Jasprit Bumrah may be dealing with something worse than just a cramp after he pulled up during the second Border-Gavaskar series Test at the Adelaide Oval. The Indian speedster needed assistance from the medical staff while bowling his 20th over in the first innings.
Bumrah was up and running after a while, and proceeded to bowl three more overs in the innings as Australia were bowled out for 337. The second time around, he opened the attack with the pink ball, but bowled only one over since the hosts polished off the 18-run target in just 3.2 overs.
However, his solitary over spoke volumes. Despite resting in the dressing room during India's turn with the bat, the pacer was not bowling full throttle, and his bowling speed for the over were clocked in the early 130 kmph mark, way down from his usual average with the new ball.
Fleming feels that Bumrah may be dealing with an injury, and noted his absence in training for India after the third Test.
"There’s got to be some serious doubts. Siraj might be workload [related] but I’m bemused Bumrah bowled that over. They could have hid this. They showed their hand," Fleming said on SEN Radio after the second Test (via the Dyney Morning Herald).
“There’s no way that’s cramp. He was very ginger after the break in the first innings. He bowled again, not quite as slow second innings. I don’t even know why he bowled that over [in the second innings]. That actually gave some secrets away to everyone,” he added.
There was initially only a small gap between the second and the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar series. However, with the clash in Adelaide ending in just over two days, and the fact that Bumrah hardly had to bowl in the second innings, gives him ample time to recover.
Team India skipper Rohit Sharma had asserted that Bumrah was likely to play all five Tests in the series, and as a result, needed the other bowlers to step up to help with the workload and impact.
"It was just this cramp" - Team India bowling coach Morne Morkel on Jasprit Bumrah's injury
Bumrah has bowled 54 overs across two Tests so far, and came on the back of a heavy home season too, where he played four out of five possible red-ball games.
Team India bowling coach Morne Morkel had assured that the spearhead was dealing with a bout of cramps, instead of a concerning injury.
“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,” said Morkel in the post-match press conference (via India Today).
The third Test between India and Australia is scheduled to begin on Saturday, December 14, onwards at The Gabba in Brisbane. The series is currently level at 1-1.