VVS Laxman has hailed India’s tail-enders for their desire to make a contribution with the bat after Jasprit Bumrah-Mohammed Shami’s stand turned things around for India in Lord’s Test.
Day 5 of the Lord’s Test, between India and England, started with only two results looking possible. Virat Kohli-led India had to bat really well and take the lead beyond 220 or so, with only four wickets in hand coupled with a long tail, as England started as overwhelming favourites to wrap up India’s batting and post a win.
VVS Laxman: Mohammed Shami Is More Than Capable Of Batting While Jasprit Bumrah Has Improved In Batting
Even a draw seemed out of cards as the weather report suggested of no such rain delay. Hence, England was favourites and a win looked out of sorts, or unlikely, for Team India but it proved otherwise.
Resuming from 181-6, leading by only 154 runs, India was soon reduced to 209-8, losing both their overnight batsmen in the form of Rishabh Pant and Ishant Sharma. While Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami had a handy partnership in India’s first innings of the series opener, not many expected them to repeat their feat or go beyond it.
However, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami defied all odds and showed their desire and determination to fight it out, fuelled by England’s constant sledging and bouncers, as the pair added an unbeaten 89-run stand for the ninth wicket as India declared at 298-8; setting up a stiff 272-run target for Joe Root-led England.
Thus, India remained on top from thereon and the bowlers, led by Mohammed Siraj’s 4-wicket haul and Jasprit Bumrah’s 3 for 33, bundled out England for 120 to stage India’s memorable 151-run win at Lord’s.
VVS Laxman told ESPNCricinfo, “Credit to the team management and all the tailenders. Ishant Sharma is more than capable of batting and I have had the experience of having those partnerships with him. Shami is more than capable of batting. You know that he can hit big sixes.”
“I still remember that match against South Africa, where he hit a lot of sixes. Umesh Yadav, who is not part of this playing XI, is a useful batsman. He has got a first-class hundred. Jasprit Bumrah, we have seen from the Australia series, how much value he is giving to his wicket and how much he has improved as far as his batting is concerned. Siraj, being from Hyderabad, I know that he can bat,” VVS Laxman said.
VVS Laxman has hailed India’s tail-enders for working hard at the nets and showing a desire to make a contribution with the bat. Put in to bat, India rode on KL Rahul‘s classy 129 to post 364 in the first innings, but England skipper Joe Root struck an unbeaten 180 to help England post 391 in their first essay and take a 27-run lead.
VVS Laxman: One Is Seeing Results As The Bowlers Desire To Get Better
India was in trouble at 209/8, their lead reading 182 when Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami came together to bail the team out of trouble. The pair batted to add an unbeaten 89-run partnership for the ninth wicket, taking India’s total to 298/8 and setting England a 272-run target, which proved enough as India registered a memorable 151-run win to take a 1-0 lead.
“It is about the desire to get better, which is very impressive. I have seen Raghu, the throwdown specialist, working with these bowlers. These bowlers do extra throwdowns do get better. “
“And the majority of the time, when Raghu bowls or when he throws in the nets, he targets the rib cage at a very good pace. The more you work and the more meaningful your preparation is, the better you get. First and foremost, the desire of all these bowlers to get better is evident and that is why you are seeing the results,” VVS Laxman added.
India goes 1-0 up in the five-match series with three more Tests to play. The Virat Kohli-led bunch will be on cloud nine after the memorable Lord’s Test win but will now need to ensure that they do not lose steam and go for the kill in the remainder of the matches to help India win its first-ever Test series in England after 2007.