Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes Ben Stokes has out-bowled Jasprit Bumrah in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar series. While Stokes is the highest wicket-taker of the series with 17 scalps in four Test matches at an average of 25.23, Bumrah is the joint second highest wicket-getter with 14 wickets in three Test matches at an average of 26.
Stokes has bowled long spells for England despite injury concerns and has pushed himself to the limit. The all-rounder was also suffering from shoulder pain on the final day of the fourth Test match at Old Trafford.
On the other hand, Jasprit Bumrah returned with figures of 2-112 in 33 overs he bowled and this is the first time when he conceded more than 100 runs in a Test inning.
Michael Vaughan wrote for the Telegraph, “He does things no-one else can. I think Jasprit Bumrah is the greatest seamer I’ve seen. Well, Stokes has out-bowled him in this series and been better than anyone else. He gets back-spin, has an awkward angle, and a great ability to know exactly how to bowl on a surface, and hit the one spot on the pitch that can cause trouble, as he did to KL Rahul on the final day against India at Old Trafford.”
Vaughan said Stokes is a crucial cog in England’s wheel as he delivers with both bat and ball. Stokes bagged six wickets in the Old Trafford Test and also scored 141 runs in the first innings.
Vaughan said, “There have been teams in the past who have been very reliant on individuals. Ian Botham, of course. When I was captain I had Andrew Flintoff. But having worked his way back to fitness with the ball and finding form with the bat, not to mention his captaincy, I cannot remember an individual as vital to a team’s hopes as Stokes is to this England team.”
The former England skipper feels other English bowlers looked toothless on a flat pitch and believes the home team could have won the game if Stokes had been able to bowl more.
Vaughan concluded, “The trouble is that Stokes’s body is in bits. He’s taped up and drugged up. In this series, he’s been clutching his groin, hamstring, calf, shoulder, and he’s had long-term knee issues. Stokes bowled a brilliant spell first thing on day five, but only one other four-over spell in the innings. When he was out of the attack, England did not look like they had the weapons to take wickets on a flat pitch. Had he been able to bowl more than 12 of the 150-odd overs, I have no doubt England would have won.”
The fifth and final Test match between England and India will be played at the Kennington Oval, London, from 31st July onwards.
