Posted by After the first Test, we reported how England’s batting success in that match had compelled India to ask Jasprit Bumrah to bowl 43.4 overs – quite a significant workload for a man whose appearances are being limited to three of the five matches due to fitness concerns. Fortunately, England’s batting was a good deal flimsier in the third Test, which meant Bumrah only had to bowl… um… 43 overs.
No seam bowler on either side got through more overs than Bumrah in the first Test and only inveterate fifth day masochist Ben Stokes bowled more in the third Test (by one over).
This is just what happens when you’re always the best bowling option, we suppose: the captain tends to opt for you.
Is this factored in? Is this part of the three-Test deal? We’ll give you more rest, but ask you to do four Tests’ worth of bowling in just three matches? Or is it a subconscious side effect? Well, we can afford to bowl him a bit more frequently because he’ll be sitting out the next match anyway.
It doesn’t especially matter what the answer is. All that matters is whether it’s sustainable. Bumrah supposedly has only one Test to go this series. Will India put those eggs into the fifth Test, when the series might already be gone, or crack them onto the bouncy Old Trafford surface in a bid to draw level?
But if he does play in Manchester and India win, that’s where workload management gets really exciting…
Regardless of the fact that Bumrah-India are 2-0 down, while Bumrahless-India are 1-0 up, the man is clearly the tourists’ best cricketer. Here the eternal “oh, but this one’s really important” asterisk that sits next to any stated workload management plan comes into effect.
We look forward to precisely how India will word their explanation of… “We didn’t plan to change our plans, but the new plan is to change the plan because this match is the decider.”
The first game (of the remaining two) will be crucial.
I had to check that Ben Stokes did indeed bowl the most overs. (Which of course he did because…..Ben Stokes). Apologies for doubting your authority, O King.
Yup, proof on both sides that you can give captains whatever instructions you want, they will consistently refuse to make smart decisions.
Even when the captain is himself! 🙂
*especially when
Ritesh,
Thanks for the attempted grammar correction but I stand by my original post.
In general the original statement from Grith is true. It is even true when the captain is the bowler. (You may expect it not to be true as why would someone do that to themselves?!)
I wasn’t trying to express that it is especially true when the captain is the bowler, as I don’t think it is.
But you may think and I wouldn’t argue that point if it’s your opinion. Especially with Mulder’s recent declaration. (You see what I did there)
Think Ritesh was expressing his opinion there. Captains are liable to treat themselves extra badly so they can’t be seen to be shirking tough playing situations.
Yeah, sorry I took that the wrong way Ritesh and KC.
I’ll go do some penance. Watch a T20 match or something.
Sorry i just checked back on this comment. I was indeed expressing an opinion (stronger, but in the same direction as yours, Dan). That captains are prone to treating themselves more harshly than they would a teammate. This comes from a mistaken belief that they must lead by example, not show themselves any leniency, earn the right to ask impossible things of their teammates etc.
When Kapil Dev was India captain, he would inevitably bowl more overs than any other seamer. In the few games Bumrah has captained India, he has worked himself into the ground. It’s a terrible thing, but you understand why elite sportspeople do it. I was suggesting this psychology plays a part in Stokes’ workload despite his body being held together by duct tape and prayer.
Working hard at cricket is tough.
Linewatch: https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/brydon-carse-attritional-lord-s-win-proves-this-england-team-can-adapt-1496097
What the heck does Brydon think he’s doing!? He’s not Australian.
TBF he didn’t claim to be drawing the line himself. But it does seem to be visible to him. Maybe that comes with being born in the southern hemisphere.