In the ongoing Test series between the England cricket team and India, all-rounder Chris Woakes lauded Indian bowling star Jasprit Bumrah for his ‘world-class’ performance.
Following his outstanding performance in the second Test against England in Visakhapatnam, Bumrah has secured the top spot in the latest ICC Men’s Test Bowler rankings, marking it the first time an Indian fast bowler has achieved this feat.
Bumrah’s remarkable bowling prowess, highlighted by his match figures of 9/91 in the Vizag Test, played a crucial role in India’s series-levelling 106-run victory over England, before their third Test in Rajkot. Pundits, fans and players alike, were full of praise for the 30-year-old and his resolute performance and one of those names was Chris Woakes.
The pacer’s outstanding performance, not only bagged him the Player of the Match award in the second Test but also became the main factor behind him jumping up three places in the Test rankings, surpassing his teammate Ravichandran Ashwin, who held the top spot since March last year.
With his recent figures as an example, Woakes hailed Bumrah as one of the best bowlers in the world at the moment.
“In the last Test match, Jasprit Bumrah was the standout player, he is a world-class player. Across all the formats, he is one of the best if not the best at the moment. It’s great to see fast bowling executed well especially in this condition,” Chris Woakes told ANI.
In Vizag, Bumrah appeared determined to shatter records, notching a significant milestone by becoming the first Indian pacer to secure 150 wickets in the longest format of the game.
Woakes also emphasised the significance of the upcoming third Test, scheduled to start on February 15. While acknowledging India’s formidable home advantage, the 34-year-old believes that the Rajkot Test, positioned ‘in the middle’, holds the potential to exert influence over the remainder of the series.
“When you’re going to play India, obviously India will be the favourites. Team England knows what they need to do to compete and they will see where the series is now, 1-1. The next match will be very important as it is the middle game of the series,” Woakes added.
However, Woakes was confident about England’s chances of winning another game from the remaining three matches and giving tough competition to the Indian side.
