Beginning on January 22, 2025, England’s eagerly awaited trip of India the next year will include an exciting five-match Test series, a three-match ODI series, and a five-match T20I series. Fans may anticipate a tantalizing spectacle from the action-packed India vs. England series.
Michael Vaughan has proposed a tactical adjustment to the visitors’ batting order ahead of England’s much anticipated India tour in order to better offset the threat posed by India’s top bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, particularly against right-handers.
To counter Jasprit Bumrah, Michael Vaughan proposes a change in England’s batting order.
With the new ball in the forthcoming Test series in India, the former England captain thinks that Ben Stokes shifting to number three may be a good strategy to lessen Bumrah’s influence.
Michael Vaughan’s recommendation is based on a recent investigation conducted in Australia, where the analyst noted that right-handed hitters find Jasprit Bumrah’s deliveries to be a serious problem due to their strong swing. Notably, the BGT 2024–25 is now featuring competition between Australia and India.
He has noted that left-handers, like as Ben Stokes, are often better at ease when facing Bumrah, and that their top-order consistency may benefit from having the all-rounder higher in the order. Additionally, Vaughan believes that this approach might help England better control Australia’s bowling assault and affect the opposition’s strategy.
When facing Jasprit Bumrah, left-handers do better: Michael Vaughan
Since left-handers are more suited to take on the Indian pacer, the former England captain believes Jasprit Bumrah’s fizzily arced deliveries might be a vulnerability and that the left-handed batter can exploit them.
“I think that simple swap is perfect for the year England has coming up,” Michael Vaughan wrote in his column for The Telegraph. I witnessed firsthand why England needs another left-hander in the top three during one Test match in Australia. The fresh ball is fizzily arced into the right-hander’s pads by Jasprit Bumrah, who wreaks havoc on players like Steve Smith, Nathan McSweeney, and Marnus Labuschagne.
“Left-handers are better suited to face Bumrah,” he continued. Stokes at number three would also be beneficial for Australia, as the additional left-hander would encourage them to employ Nathan Lyon early, which would prevent the quicks from bowling within the little window of opportunity when the ball swings.
England, Australia, and India all participate in Test matches.
The Indian cricket team is currently competing in the renowned Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25 while on tour in Australia. Thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s hundreds against Australia, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah’s eight-wicket haul, the tourists have already won the first Test by 295 runs in Perth.
When the Indian team plays the host Australian team in the second Test starting on December 6, they would prefer to extend their 1-0 advantage in Adelaide. The match will be a day-night test. In contrast, England is now in New Zealand for a three-match Test series.
At Hagley Oval on Sunday, the England cricket team, captained by Ben Stokes, defeated New Zealand by eight wickets in the opening Test match. Notably, Stokes’ hamstring issue kept him out of four Test matches this season.
