England will be very happy if Jasprit Bumrah doesn’t play: Ian Bell

Former England top-order batter Ian Bell has stated that if the Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah doesn’t make it to the second Test in Birmingham, the English side, led by Ben Stokes, would be very happy.

It’s important to note that ahead of the England tour, the chief selector Ajit Agarkar asserted that Bumrah would be available for only three out of the five Tests to manage his workload concerns in the longest format of the game.

“I’d be amazed if he (Bumrah) only plays three Tests this summer. He’s the best fast bowler in the world, and if he doesn’t play, England will be very, very happy,” Bell told PTI.

Interestingly, Bumrah scalped a five-wicket haul in the first innings of the Leeds Test, his 12th five-wicket haul away from home in Tests. However, he couldn’t replicate his heroics in the second innings, settling without a wicket as England bagged a comfortable five-wicket win.

Furthermore, Bell asserted that if Bumrah is fit enough and is available for selection for the Birmingham Test, the Indian team, led by Shubman Gill, has to go ahead with his inclusion in the XI as India is trailing the series by 0-1. 

“Of course, you want to protect him (Bumrah), but if the series is on the line and he’s fit, he has to play,” Bell added.

Also, Bell suggested that Team India include their attacking spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI. Though the surface might not assist spinners right away from the opening day, we can expect a bit of spin and bounce in the next few days of the Test.

“It (wicket) won’t turn early, but by day four or five, it could take spin. Kuldeep is bowling beautifully. Someone who can spin it both ways is always a threat – especially to England’s lower order,” he concluded.

India’s squad for 2nd Test vs England: Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (VC & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav.

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