Ben Duckett Left in Awe of Jasprit Bumrah’s Bowling: “Happy Brook is Still Batting”

Ben Duckett was specially awestruck by Jasprit Bumrah's final over that nearly took England's fourth wicket.

Ben Duckett Left in Awe of Jasprit Bumrah’s Bowling: “Happy Brook is Still Batting”

Ben Duckett lauded Jasprit Bumrah's bowling during the final over of Day 2 of the India-England Test at Leeds. (via Sky Sports/X)

England opener Ben Duckett was left awestruck at Jasprit Bumrah’s exceptional bowling spell, during the second day of the team’s opening Test against India at Headingley, Leeds. Duckett specifically lauded Bumrah’s final over, which nearly resulted in England losing its fourth wicket.

Put to bat first, India rode high on Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant’s centuries to post a massive first innings total of 471 runs. England’s bowling attack struggled, with only Josh Tongue and skipper Ben Stokes making significant impacts. Tongue took four wickets for 86 runs in 20 overs, while Stokes also claimed four wickets, notably dismissing Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair for ducks.

England openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley came out to bat from the second day onwards, with a daunting task of going past India’s 471-run lead. However, the Three Lions faced an early setback, with Crawley being dismissed off the final ball of the very first over.

Ollie Pope and Duckett then stabilized the innings for the home side. Pope ended the day by completing his ninth Test century off 125 balls, while Duckett was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah for 62 runs from 94 deliveries.

The home side ended with 209/3 on the board, at the end of the Day 2. For India, Jasprit Bumrah once again stood head and shoulders above his teammates. He ended with impressive figures of 3/48 in his 13-over spell, while the others, including Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur, leaked runs. However, fans got a glimpse of the best of the 31-year-old in the penultimate over of the day.

He started troubling England’s Harry Brook, who had only come out to bat at no. 5. The first three balls of the last over were full-length deliveries that Brook cautiously handled. However, the fourth one was a surprisingly well-placed short ball. Brook was forced into a pull shot towards short mid-wicket, where Mohammed Siraj took a diving catch. He survived, though, as it was a no-ball, Bumrah’s third in that over.

Opener Ben Duckett, speaking after the end of the day’s play, expressed a sigh of relief for Brook having survived off the final over. Terming it as a ‘hell of an over’, Duckett stated that Jasprit Bumrah is a treat to watch. He was also pleased with how England bowled at the end to take seven wickets for 41 runs, and exclaimed that had the bowlers not showed off their resilience, India would have scored over 600 runs. 

It’s a hell of an over, you know, watching him do his thing, Jasprit [Bumrah]. He’s very good to watch, you know, and Brookie [Harry Brook] just to come off air. He’s not out. So happy days.

Ben Duckett said in the post day presser

Trailing by 262 runs, England will be aiming to build on their strong start, when they step onto the pitch on Day 3. With Ollie Pope and Harry Brook at the crease, the Three Lions still have batting depth, including captain Ben Stokes, Jamie Smith, and all-rounders Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse.

Well, I think very good. It could have been a lot worse. I think we took six for 40, maybe, you know, on another 41. Another day, you know, that there’s 600 plus or whatever.

Ben Ducket admits teammate Ollie Pope’s century gave him ‘goosebumps’

English opener Ben Duckett also praised teammate Ollie Pope’s calm and composed hundred, against a tough Indian bowling attack on Day 2, of the first Test at Headingley in Leeds. The 27-year-old wicket-keeper batter Pope scored an impressive 100 runs off 131 balls, hitting 13 fours. 

Ben Duckett goosebumps Ollie Pope hundred
Ben Duckett exclaimed that he had ‘goosebumps’ after Ollie Pope scored his ton against India, under pressure. (via Sky Sports)

Duckett and Pope stitched a much-needed 122-run second wicket stand, which has put the Three Lions on course to a big first innings total. Duckett reflected how Pope’s century under pressure, while facing Jasprit Bumrah against the new ball, gave him goosebumps. Duckett emphasized that Ollie Pope’s temperament and positive approach shifted the momentum in England’s favor during a critical phase.

Pope now has 3,401 runs in 57 Tests at an average of 35.49. His century against India signifies a strong return to England’s number three batting position, a spot he occasionally lost last year to the in-form all-rounder Jacob Bethell, who had replaced him at times at number six.