NEW DELHI: Knocked over twice already in the first two Tests, England skipper Ben Stokes has had a tough time against world no.1 Test bowler Jasprit Bumrah in the ongoing series in India.
Despite having a reputation of being an excellent player of fast bowling, Stokes has been troubled quite a lot by India pace spearhead and former England opener Michael Atherton feels that the swashbuckling England batter has not been able to pick Bumrah’s pace.
With 134 runs to his name in the two matches, that include a highest score of 70, Stokes has been getting starts but hasn’t been able to convert them into big scores in the series yet.
“Picking with the speed of the ball is tough with him, and I’ve noticed with Stokes, even Stokes actually is an excellent player of fast bowling. He’s hurried with Bumrah,” Atherton told Sky Cricket.
“He struggles to pick up the pace, and a couple of times when he’s got him, it looks as though the ball has kept low, which has but it also almost beaten him for pace as well. I think that’s the issue with Bumrah,” Atherton added.
England registered a surprise win in the first Test in Hyderabad but hosts India bounced back in style in Vizag to level 5-match series at 1-1.
Despite having a reputation of being an excellent player of fast bowling, Stokes has been troubled quite a lot by India pace spearhead and former England opener Michael Atherton feels that the swashbuckling England batter has not been able to pick Bumrah’s pace.
With 134 runs to his name in the two matches, that include a highest score of 70, Stokes has been getting starts but hasn’t been able to convert them into big scores in the series yet.
“Picking with the speed of the ball is tough with him, and I’ve noticed with Stokes, even Stokes actually is an excellent player of fast bowling. He’s hurried with Bumrah,” Atherton told Sky Cricket.
“He struggles to pick up the pace, and a couple of times when he’s got him, it looks as though the ball has kept low, which has but it also almost beaten him for pace as well. I think that’s the issue with Bumrah,” Atherton added.
England registered a surprise win in the first Test in Hyderabad but hosts India bounced back in style in Vizag to level 5-match series at 1-1.
The third Test will commence from February 15 in Rajkot.
