England’s fun new style took a strange turn when Stuart Broad was bowled for the costliest over in Test history by India’s No.10 Jasprit Bumrah.
A total of 35 runs came from Broad’s set, surpassing the previous record of 28, which had happened three times.
In chaotic, comedic and downright silly scenes on the second morning of the fifth Test at Edgbaston, Bumrah hit two sixes and four fours.
Broad’s situation worsened further as one of the sixes came after a no-ball and another delivery that went for five-aids.
This meant that Bumrah, a Test average of six, set a record against a player who had just claimed his 550th career wicket.
Bumrah, who captained India, also set a new record for most runs from the bat in a single Test – 29.
The previous record of 28 was jointly held by Australian George Bailey and West Indies legend Brian Lara, meaning Bumrah has taken the batting record from one of the game’s all-time greats.
Lara inflicted his punishment on South African spinner Robin Pietersen in 2003, while Bailey’s strike was against Broad’s long-term new partner James Anderson in the 2013 Perth Ashes Test.
Coincidentally, England’s Joe Root, who was on the field at Edgbaston, had also earlier bowled an over that reached 28, but only 24 of those runs came off the bat.
Also, for the second time in Broad’s career, he set an unwanted record with the ball. In 2007, he became the first bowler to hit six sixes in a Twenty20 international when he was scalped by India’s Yuvraj Singh.
The chaos caused by Bumrah compounded a poor morning for England as India moved their overnight 338-7 to 416 all out.
Although England managed to dismiss Ravindra Jadeja for 104 and Mohammed Shami for 16, their no-nonsense short-ball tactics allowed Bumrah to punish Broad in one of the strangest overs ever seen in Test cricket.
How the chaos unfolded
- Ball one – four runs – Top end at short ball teases Zak Crowley at fine leg but bounces to the boundary.
- Ball two – five wides – Too short, over the heads of everyone including wicket keeper Sam Billings.
- Ball three – no ball, six runs – Top edge flies over the slips, hitting the billboards. A no ball means it’s seven in total and Broad has conceded 16 from three legal deliveries.
- Ball four – four runs – The wheels are off now. Broad serves a full toss which Bumrah hits mid on for four.
- Ball five – four runs – It’s all Bumrah. Even an inside edge goes for four. Start reaching for the record books.
- Ball six – four runs – Bumrah has spun off his legs for a boundary down the leg side. He equaled the Test record of 28 from an over with two balls to spare.
- Ball seven – six runs – Unbelievable. Bumrah broke the record with his second six as another short ball was spun into the stands at fine leg.
- Ball eight – one run – The final insult. Broad finally bowls a yorker, Bumrah digs it out and goes for a single. Broad is in contention with non-striker Mohammed Siraj. They both dive, Broad destroys the stumps but Siraj is home. The over was worth 35 runs.
“Chaotic”, “amazing”, “brainless” – what did they say
Former England striker Mark Ramprakash: “It was so chaotic. It was an astonishing passage of play, largely because Stuart Broad is such a skilled bowler, but England had men spread far and wide – even Ben Stokes was in for long. It was breathtaking strokeplay with a bit of luck.
“The short ball barrage has become very predictable. Bumrah just relaxed, knowing what was coming.”
Former England footballer Phil Tufnell: “I don’t get it [the tactics]. England have done it before and that is the definition of madness.
“I know we’re in this new fantastic era where everything’s great and everything’s positive, but it’s just annoying because as much as they want to go out there and bat positively now, with 400 on board they’re also going to have to cling a little.
“I’ve never been a fan of the short-ball tactic for lower-order batsmen, especially guys like Shami and Bumrah, who can actually play that shot well when they know every ball is coming. What happened to the top of the stump with the new ball?”
Special Test match commentator Daniel Norcross: “I’ve just seen some of the most careless brainlessness I’ve ever seen on a cricket field. Waiting 30 overs to get the new ball and deciding what to do with it is bam in a nutshell. Numbers 10 and 11 are in and there are no gaps in place!”
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