India vs England 2nd Test: Role reversals for Bumrah and Shami as they play redefining knock with the bat

Shami, scored the most important half-century of his career while Bumrah showed tremendous application as their 89-run unbroken ninth-wicket partnership laid the foundation of India’s win.

Shami, who remained unbeaten on 56 from 70 balls reached his second half-century in style, hitting a towering six off Moeen Ali while Bumrah made a stubborn 34 not not out to bat England out of the game as the both specialist bowlers came up with redifining career-best knocks with the bat.

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The duo not only added invaluable runs for the ninth wicket after the early dismal of Rishabh Pant on the fifth-day moring with the score reading 209 for eight, but also consumed enough overs to take one session virtually out of the equation.

This was also India’s highest ninth wicket stand in a Test match in England.

“Calling this partnership crucial would be an understatement. It has changed the complexion of the game! Well done,” tweeted Indian great Sachin Tendulkar and his comments were spot on as India went on to win a thrilling game.

Calling this partnership crucial would be an understatement. It has changed the complexion of the game! Well done @MdShami11 and @Jaspritbumrah93!

Go for it #TeamIndia. ????????#ENGvIND

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 16, 2021

England captain Joe Root decided to spread the field anticipating a lot of aerial shots from the duo, but much to his horror and his own dressing room’s surprise, both were ready to put their heads down and play proper cricketing shots.

With Mark Wood bowling with deep point and deep mid-wicket, the singles came easily and both of them showed copybook forward defence to Moeen, someone who has troubled the top-order regularly.

Jasprit Bumrah battles bouncers, verbal volleys from Wood, Buttler

They were peppered with a few short balls and Bumrah also got hit on the helmet by Wood, but he manfully carried on concentrating even more.

Their partnership was applauded generously by the Lord’s crowd, mostly Indians, but it was their change room that gave them a standing ovation.

“A partnership to remember for ages for @Jaspritbumrah93 & @MdShami11
on the field and a rousing welcome back to the dressing room from #TeamIndia,” BCCI tweeted the video from their official handle.

A partnership to remember for ages for @Jaspritbumrah93 & @MdShami11 on the field and a rousing welcome back to the dressing room from #TeamIndia.

What a moment this at Lord’s ????????????#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/biRa32CDTt

— BCCI (@BCCI) August 16, 2021

Shami flicked Anderson for a boundary and also hit a picturesque cover-drive off Moeen. If that was not enough, he also lofted Moeen over mid-on for a boundary.

Once they had added 30-odd runs, Root understood that the aerial shot strategy had backfired and got back to the traditional two-slip and gully field.

“Really happy to see the entire team giving a grand welcome to both Bumrah & Shami. Such partnerships in trying circumstances lifts the morale of the entire team and suddenly gets everyone charged up. Great to see the team enjoying each other’s success,” VVS Laxman, another Indian batting great tweeted after seeing the innings and the subsequent reaction they got in the dressing room.

Really happy to see the entire team giving a grand welcome to both Bumrah & Shami. Such partnerships in trying circumstances lifts the morale of the entire team and suddenly gets everyone charged up. Great to see the team enjoying each other’s success pic.twitter.com/V3TYRQWIT0

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) August 16, 2021

With Root’s strategy having backfired, Bumrah’s defence and Shami’s attack had piled on England frustrations which led to some on-field altercation between the two Indians Root and his premier pacer Anderson.

At the end of the match, Indian skipper Virat Kohli was cadid while admitting that the altercation really fuelled the team as India registered one of their comeback wins in Test history.