Cricket literature has incorporated some new terminologies of late — hard length, heavy ball and there are a few more. Those words are frequently used during cricket commentary these days. What exactly is a hard length or a heavy ball would be a fair question to ask. Also, why Richie Benaud, the former Australia captain and the doyen of commentators, never used those words is anyone’s guess.
Another term that has become fashionable — this is from the teams’ perspective — over the last few years is ‘workload management’. This obviously has merit, given the packed schedule of modern-day cricket. As regards the Indian team, the term has sort of become synonymous with Jasprit Bumrah.
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No way is this column aiming a dig at India's greatest-ever fast bowler. Bumrah has a history of back injuries and at this stage of his career, he needs to be managed carefully. This was the reason why the Indian team management, in conjunction with the BCCI’s medical team, decided that the 31-year-old would be playing only three Tests in the five-match series in England. Head coach Gautam Gambhir had confirmed after the first Test in Leeds that irrespective of the results, Bumrah wouldn't be stretched.
But when the team's bowling spearhead opted out of the final Test at The Oval, criticisms came thick and fast. India still managed to win the game, riding on Mohammed Siraj's heroics, but former Indian cricketers, including World Cup-winner Sandeep Patil, were at odds with the ‘workload management’ concept. According to them, unless a player is making himself available for the full series, he shouldn't be picked at all.
Fair point, which should be applicable to almost every cricketer. But Bumrah is a special case. He is the Koh-i-Noor of Indian cricket and deserves to be wrapped up in cotton wool. Also, Siraj recently said how playing at The Oval could have seriously impacted Bumrah’s career.
“Bumrah bhai doesn't worry about the outside opinion. He had a serious back injury and a big surgery. Had he bowled in that match, one can’t say whether he would have bowled again or not, if he had broken down. It’s that serious,” Siraj said at The Indian Express’ Idea Exchange.
After the England series, Bumrah went through the rigours of the Asia Cup in the Dubai heat followed by two home Tests against the West Indies despite very little turnaround time. He bowled 51.5 overs over two Tests. And although he has been rested for the three ODIs in Australia, Bumrah is part of the T20I squad that will play five matches Down Under. A home Test series against South Africa will follow.
Was it necessary to play Bumrah against the Caribbeans, given the gulf in class between the two sides? Flat pitches were laid out for the series and it was hard work for the fast bowlers.
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Before the start of the series, Shubham Gill made it clear that unlike the England tour, the team management was not “pre-decided” on Bumrah’s workload management. “Nothing is pre-decided,” said the skipper at the pre-match press conference. “We are going to take a call on a match-to-match basis, depending on how long a Test match goes and how many overs our fast bowlers bowl. We will take a call once the Test match is over and (after assessing) how our fast bowlers feel and how their bodies feel after the match.”
All is good as of now. Just that India will hope Bumrah doesn't break down before the T20 World Cup, which is just four months away.
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