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Ben Duckett has explained the only way to tackle ‘the best bowler in the world’ Jasprit Bumrah.
Jasprit Bumrah is counted among the world’s top fast bowlers. (PTI Photo)
England opener Ben Duckett believes the only way to tackle the ‘best bowler in the world’ Jasprit Bumrah is to not let him settle and try and ‘put him under pressure’.
Duckett was one of Bumrah’s three victims on Day 2 of the Headingley Test between India and England for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. However, the opener managed to see off his initial burst and scored 62 off 94, the second-best return for the day. It wasn’t without luck — he was dropped twice on Bumrah’s bowling — and eventually got out to the Indian spearhead, inside-edging one to his timber.
But thanks to his knock and Ollie Pope’s unbeaten 100, England went to Stumps at 209/3, 262 runs behind India’s first innings total of 471.
“He is the best bowler in the world,” Duckett said after the day’s play. “He’s extremely hard to face. He’s good in any conditions; he’s good in India on the flattest pitches ever and when he’s coming in down the hill at Headingley with the lights on and it’s swinging both ways. I feel like we minimised the damage early on.
“It could have been a lot worse today… He is just a world-class bowler, and you can’t let someone like him just bowl; he’s too good for that. You’ve got to still try and put him under pressure, and try to put the bad balls away,” he added.
The batter also lauded Pope, admitting that he had goosebumps watching him celebrate his milestone. His words also seemed like an attempt to allay doubts around the number three batter’s spot in the time, which have been on a high since young Jacob Bethell’s arrival on the scene.
“I had goosebumps for him. You go one down and he comes in and takes all the pressure on you and scores quick. He is such a legend and such a big part of this team. We know there is noise outside the dressing room so to go and score 171 then 100 is something else. If he does get in, he gets 100s and someone like him at 3 against India, it is a no brainer. Popey scored 100s, and he did it away as well when we won- he is a match winner. It is a great start to the series for him,” Duckett said.
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