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Key Points

Ashwin believes England will adopt a cautious approach against Bumrah while attacking other Indian bowlers. He suggests India should play defensive cricket to build pressure. England's record chase in the first Test puts them 1-0 up in the series. The second Test begins Wednesday with India looking to bounce back.

Key Points: Ashwin Says England Will Bazball Others But Play Bumrah Carefully

  • Ashwin warns England will target non-Bumrah bowlers aggressively
  • India lost Leeds Test despite five centuries
  • England's 371-run chase ranks second-highest in Tests
  • Ashwin urges defensive bowling tactics to build pressure
2 min read

England will play Bumrah carefully, Bazball everyone else...: Ravichandran Ashwin

Ashwin predicts England's cautious approach against Bumrah while aggressively targeting other Indian bowlers in the Test series.

"We will play Bumrah carefully and then Bazball everyone else - Ravichandran Ashwin"

New Delhi, July 1

Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin believes England will focus on playing cautiously against Jasprit Bumrah while aggressively targeting other bowlers as part of their "Bazball" approach during the Test series against India.

"It's not about how many overs Jasprit Bumrah will bowl. It's about how we keep the pressure on if Bumrah isn't bowling. So this game is very straightforward, 'We will play Bumrah carefully and then Bazball everyone else'. That is pretty much what England will do," Ashwin said, according to Wisden.com.

India lost the Leeds Test despite five of their batters scoring centuries. Only once before has a team lost a Test after registering four hundreds. Australia against England in Melbourne (1928). The second Test begins Wednesday.

England's 371-run chase against India in the first test now stands as their second-highest successful pursuit in Test history.

Ashwin said that as a bowling unit, India should make strategies to play some defensive cricket.

"So, as a bowling unit, we should make strategies to play some defensive, negative cricket. The kind of wickets England are making, we should play negative, defensive cricket and ask our bowlers to contain them more," he added.

Ashwin felt 'going for the wickets', be it Test cricket or T20 cricket, is all a lie, and pressure gives you wickets. "The whole point of 'going for the wickets', be it Test cricket or T20 cricket, is all a lie. Pressure gives you wickets. When a bowler keeps a batter at one end for 10 balls and then delivers a good ball, that's what we call rhythm. You have to put the batters under pressure without giving runs, bottling him up. Testing his technique inside out. So if India wants to win the second Test, play Bumrah, even Kuldeep Yadav and make sure the rest of the bowlers are bottling one end up," Ashwin added.

England needed 350 runs in the fourth innings to seal the match, and they did it comfortably in 82 overs. With this win, England go 1-0 up in the five-match test series.

India, led by Shubman Gill, will take on Ben Stokes's England in the second of the five-match Test series (Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy) at Edgbaston in Birmingham starting from Wednesday.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As an England fan, I must admit Ashwin's reading of our strategy is accurate. But Test cricket is about adapting - if India can bottle up one end consistently, it could make things interesting. Looking forward to a competitive match!
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Ananya R
Why is Ashwin not playing himself? His experience would be invaluable in these conditions. Our team management needs to rethink their selection policy. We can't afford to lose another Test after scoring 5 centuries!
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Vikram M
The real problem is our batting collapses in second innings. We score big in first innings but fail to capitalize. Need more consistency from our top order. Bumrah can't win matches alone!
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Karthik V
Ashwin's point about pressure is golden. In Test cricket, patience is key. Our bowlers need to bowl tight lines and build pressure rather than going for wickets every ball. England's Bazball approach can be countered with disciplined bowling.
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Priya S
I disagree with the negative cricket approach. We should play to our strengths - aggressive bowling with proper field placements. Defensive mindset never won anyone matches against England at home. Need to attack their weaknesses!

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