Cricket: Speedster Jasprit Bumrah confounds England batters, as India seize control at Visakhapatnam test

Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has claimed 6/45 in a reverse swing masterclass to fetch India a handy lead on day two of the second test against England at Visakhapatnam.

Replying to India's 396 in the first innings, England were cruising at 114/1, batting with the kind of unbridled aggression that has become the hallmark of the side under captain Ben Stokes.

Armed with the reversing ball, Bumrah then turned the match on its head and England were all out for 253, conceding a first-innings lead of 143. India were 28 for no loss at stumps for an overall lead of 171.

VISAKHAPATNAM, INDIA - FEBRUARY 03: England batsman Ben Stokes reacts after being bowled by Jasprit Bumrah during day two of the 2nd Test Match between India  and England at ACA-VDCA Stadium on February 03, 2024 in Visakhapatnam, India. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Yashasvi Jaiswal, who smashed 209 in the first innings, was batting on 15, with skipper Rohit Sharma on 13 at the other end.

"If you want to take wickets as a fast in India, you have got to learn to use reverse swing, because the new ball doesn't do much," said Bumrah. "Sometimes you can try and force the magical deliveries, but it's also about being patient and setting the batter up.

"You have to have a plan and use every delivery wisely. I was very happy to execute it today and happy to contribute on that pitch."

England got off to a strong start, with Zak Crawley (76) and Ben Duckett (21) looking determined to make the most of the excellent batting conditions.

Crawley hit Bumrah for four fours in an over en route to a 52-ball fifty, a milestone he reached with a six off Kuldeep Yadav (3/71).

The spinner broke the 59-run stand, when he had Duckett caught at silly point, but was denied a second wicket in that over, when Srikar Bharat blew a stumping opportunity against Ollie Pope.

Crawley went run-a-ball, but miscued his shot against Axar Patel and Shreyas Iyer took a spectacular tumbling catch running backwards to trigger a collapse.

With the ball reversing, Bumrah was recalled into the attack and the crafty seamer responded by getting Joe Root caught in the slip for five.

Bumrah's mastery was on display again and this time, Pope (23) nearly fell over trying to block a yorker that crashed through his defence, and into the base of his middle and leg stumps.

Bumrah returned after the teabreak to dismiss Johnny Bairstow (25), with England reeling at 159 and their top five batters back in the hut. Yadav removed Ben Foakes and Rehan Ahmed, before Bumrah returned to produce a stunning delivery to end Stokes' brisk 47.

The England captain dropped his bat and stood in disbelief, after Bumrah sent down a delivery that jagged back to flatten his offstump.

Earlier, Jaiswal smashed his maiden test double hundred, which contained seven sixes and 19 fours, to provide the bedrock of the Indian innings where no other batter managed a fifty.

Seamer James Anderson, Shoaib Bashir and fellow spinner Ahmed claimed three wickets apiece for England.

Reuters