First-time captain, Jasprit Bumrah, impressed many with his decision-making in the first three days of the Edgbaston Test against England. However, on Day 4, things went south for India as bowlers struggled to pick up wickets. In times of adversity, Bumrah also took some strange decisions that the experts of the game couldn’t understand.
Kevin Pietersen, who is a huge admirer of Bumrah the bowler, highlighted the mistakes he made on Day 4, giving the English batters the opportunity to strengthen their case in the run-chase.
“I don’t think Bumrah got his tactics right today at all, and I say that with the greatest deal of respect,” Pietersen told Sky Sports post stumps on Day 4.
“There is no way with a reverse swinging ball that he should make it that easy for the batter, because the batter is trying so hard to decipher which way that ball is swinging. When it’s reverse swinging at 90mph, the nicest place to bat is at the non-strikers end, and the ability to get to the non-strikers end as easily as they did this afternoon, it’s too easy,” he explained.
Pietersen, who has led England for a long time, said that Bumrah’s decision to have a long-off and long-on in place was ‘pure madness’. KP feels Bumrah should’ve gone with a more aggressive field, enticing England batters to hit in the air in order to clear the in-field.
“They had long off and long on, and that was pure madness. For half an hour that was pure madness. Even for the last 15-20 minutes of the day’s play, pull them right in, say ‘Jonny, if you’re good enough to hit me over the head, please do it,'” he said.
“I hope they don’t do it tomorrow morning, but for England’s sake, absolutely, let them spread them as far as they want,” Pietersen said.
