Keaton Jennings, Jonny Bairstow and Stuart Broad: three batsmen who had no answers whatsoever to Jasprit Bumrah’s pace and swing in Southampton on the first day of the fourth Test on Thursday, August 30.
It started with Jennings. In there to try and save his Test career, Jennings had played out three balls when Bumrah charged in. It was the third over of the morning, and Bumrah, from over the wicket to the left-hander, directed the 139kph delivery just outside off.
Jennings seemed to be shouldering arms. But the ball changed its mind midway through, homed in and hit Jennings’ pads. It looked like it had gone through his legs, but LBW it was. It boomeranged properly, that one.
Curran was the star, but got good support from Moeen Ali – both players were recalled for the game – who scored 40 in close to two-and-a-half hours.
“They played some shots and scored some runs. After the break, we decided that we’d have to create pressure again and work hard for a wicket.”
That paid dividends, as Ali fell in the 60th over, caught brilliantly by Bumrah attempting to hit Ravichandran Ashwin over the top. Just 16-odd overs later, the England innings wrapped up.
