James Anderson, speaking on the BBC’s Tailenders podcast, reflected on the now-famous 15-minute over bowled to him by Jasprit Bumrah during the second Test at Lord’s. The over included several no balls, with Bumrah bowling a series of quick bouncers at the number eleven.
The incident spiced up what was already a fiery affair, as England looked to repay the favour at the end of India’s second innings. Such was in vain, though, as Bumrah put on an unbeaten 89-run partnership with Mohammed Shami.
Anderson mentioned that his batting partner Joe Root had told him “Bumrah was not bowling as quick as he normally does. And then…it felt like…I haven’t felt like this ever in my career. I felt he wasn’t trying to get me out”.
The Lancashire pacer went on to describe the seemingly unending nature of the over: “He bowled an over, maybe 10, 11, 12 balls. He was bowling no-ball after no-ball, bowling short. I think he bowled two on the stumps which I managed to dig out. So for me, it was just about trying to survive that and get Joe back on strike”.
The incident has been the subject of much debate, with many suggesting a tailender should not be subject to such dangerous bowling, when in order to claim their wicket deliveries hitting the stumps will almost always suffice. Others have even claimed the no-balls were intentional on Bumrah’s part, but India’s quick has been liable to overstep frequently in the past.
Whatever the moral questions of the over may be, it made for tremendous theatre, adding to a Test match that truly had it all. England will now be looking to learn from their errors in getting emotionally carried away during the game as the series moves on to Headingley.
According to few reports, Anderson asked Bumrah to bowl slow during this (watch video) famous 15-minute long over 😂
What we heard via stump mic- Bumrah to Buttler: I wasn’t the one who asked to bowl slow. This means we’re in for some aggressive cricket.#ENGvsIND pic.twitter.com/8F4TaKDRUK— Rushil Patale (@rushilpatale) August 18, 2021
