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India Coach Refuses To Compare Stokes and Bumrah’s Workloads
Follow UsRyan ten Doeschate made it clear that the Indian team doesn’t make comparisons between their players with individuals from other teams
India lost the third Test at Lord’s in the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy and are 1-2 behind in the series. A key talking point throughout the series has been the selection of Jasprit Bumrah for particular Test matches, as he and the team had pre-decided that he would only be playing three Test matches in this series.
When asked about the bowling workloads and especially how England skipper Ben Stokes became a bowling machine in the London Test, the Indian assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate described the workhorse-like bowling from the English all-rounder; however, he refused to compare him with Bumrah.
“That was super impressive for Ben [Stokes] to come out on their last day and bowl the amount of overs he did with the intensity he did, and obviously bats and fields as well,” ten Doeschate said on Thursday, as quoted by the Indian Express.
“We’re not here to compare our bowlers to individuals from other teams. We have our own strengths. We know what Jasprit does in spells, in shorter spells, which he prefers bowling in.”
The Dutch also praised Mohammed Siraj for the fight he has shown so far in the series, playing all three Tests and bowling a lot of overs. He also showed great restraint while batting in the second innings and did his best to take India close to the target. However, his workload is something the team will consider going forward.
“We take for granted how lucky we are to have someone like that [Siraj],” the Indian assistant coach said.
“I know he doesn’t always have the returns that you expect from a fast bowler, but in terms of heart, he’s like a lion and what he brings to this bowling attack, whenever he does have the ball in hand, you always feel like something’s going to happen.
“He’s not someone who’s going to shy away from workload, so it makes it even more important for us to manage his workload and make sure that he’s at least fit to give his best. And again, we’ll take a call on the combination we play, particularly given the Arshdeep situation as well, we’ll make that call closer to Manchester,” the former Netherlands cricketer added, alluding to the hand injury the Indian left-arm seamer faced in the training session.
The fourth Test begins on July 23 in Manchester.