Jasprit Bumrah Speaks of Ball Change Controversy in Third Test of India vs-England with a Collected Perspective

Jasprit Bumrah has proved once again why he is one of the most collected and reliable players of the Indian cricket team. On the second day of the third India-England Test match at Lord's, the spotlight was no longer on the game but instead on a different sort of drama surrounding the Dukes ball. The ball continued to lose its shape repeatedly and was replaced more than once. It caused confusion on the ground and attracted a lot of attention from players fans and ex-cricketers. Although the matter became large Bumrah remained firm and did not make anything complicated in his replies and avoided any controversial statement that might have jeopardized his match fees.

It all began early in the morning when the Indian side observed that the ball had lost its shape after only a few overs. The ball was only 10 overs old but the team was very dissatisfied with the way it was performing. The umpire attempted to make the ball go through the standard hoop test to find out if it was of the right shape but it did not pass which confirmed the issue. This resulted in the ball being replaced and that moment created palpable frustration particularly from India's captain Shubman Gill who had a quite heated conversation with the umpire. During the interval for drinks tension did not dissipate and Gill could be seen arguing with the umpire and looking visibly irked. Things only got hotter when the same problem arose again towards the end of the day after 48 further deliveries and the ball needed to be changed again.

By the last session the issue of the ball had become a frequent disruption. This time it was England who requested a change but their ball was hoop tested so it remained in play. The contradiction in the way balls were behaving and getting replaced caught the attention of the fans and the former players spoke up with strong views. Yet in all the commotion Bumrah dealt with the issue calmly. When questioned about what he felt about the frequent changes of the ball, he provided a balanced answer that kept him out of trouble.

He said that he does not control the ball changes and that is something decided by the match officials. He explained that he works hard and plays many overs so he would rather not say something that could result in a deduction of his match fees. He further added that the team simply bowled with whatever ball they were provided and that at times you are fortunate enough to receive a quality ball and at times not. But that is the way cricket is and there is nothing much we can do or complain about it.

Apart from this distraction caused by the ball, soon the attention was again shifted to Bumrah's remarkable bowling performance. He bowled an excellent spell of bowling and finished with five wickets for only 74 runs in challenging weather conditions. His victims were prominent players such as Joe Root Ben Stokes and Harry Brook and that completely turned the tide of the match in India's direction. Bumrah contributed not only with the ball but also in his leadership and in guiding the team on and off the field.

Young cricketer Nitish Kumar Reddy previously complimented Bumrah and stated that the entire team looks up to his advice and takes his suggestions. Bumrah responded to this in a humorous manner however and stated that Nitish's observation was only partially correct. He made a joke that Nitish never really asked him anything but continued to state that today's youth is very self-assured and does not always need so much advice. He added that he makes an effort to assist them in times of need and recounts his experience from previous tours in England whenever necessary.

Bumrah also added that he does not make an attempt to involve himself in every conversation or impose his style on young players as each player has his own manner of playing. He said that his own style of bowling and attitude towards the game is different so rather than attempting to get them to do what he does he just provides advice if asked. He wants to make everything as easy as possible for the young players so they can remain relaxed and play at their best without thinking too much or getting bombarded with advice.

This level headedness and humble attitude has turned Jasprit Bumrah into a role model within the Indian cricket team. His performance during the match reiterated why he is among the world's best bowlers. While the controversy surrounding the ball kept hitting the headlines Bumrah remained aloof from the commotion and simply concentrated on doing his work. His even response in the press conference and his commitment on the field were both demonstrations of the kind of professional he is.

In a game of tension charged emotions and reactions in the public eye it is not simple to keep one's cool and talk sensibly. But Bumrah was able to do just that and took the situation in his stride. Although everyone expected him to vent his anger or rant against the system he chose to show respect for the procedure and had faith in the officials dealing with the issue.

This cool approach combined with best class performance is what sets Bumrah apart. Fans might keep going on about the ball factor and cricketers might have their thoughts but Bumrah has made it evident that his priorities will always be to deliver his best irrespective of the conditions.