‘Massive moment in this series’: India sweat on Bumrah injury as star leaves SCG

Australia’s hopes of wrestling back the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade could hinge on the ability of Indian superstar Jasprit Bumrah to overcome a back spasm that forced him to hospital in a dramatic second day of the final Test of the series.

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Bumrah left the field shortly after lunch at the SCG after managing to bowl only one session and then left the ground for scans shortly after on a day where India restricted Australia to just 181, only to reach stumps at 6-141 in a bowler-dominated Test.

The 31-year-old, who has taken 32 wickets for the series at an average of 13.06 and started the day by snaring the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne for 2, jogged up the stairs of the SCG on returning later in the day, with Indian hopeful he will be available to bowl.

Prasidh Krishna, who along with Mohammed Siraj and Nitish Kumar Reddy rose to the occasion in the stand-in skipper’s absence to give India a four run lead after the first innings, briefly addressed Bumrah’s fitness after play.

“He had a back spasm. He had gone for scans. The medical team is monitoring him, so we’ll know by whenever the medical team gets back to us,” he said.

Australian coach Andrew McDonald said his bowlers were focusing solely on securing the final four Indian wickets for as few runs as possible after Scott Boland produced another brilliant display with the ball when finishing with 4-42 from 13 overs.

Ravindra Jadeja and Washinton Sundar, who have both performed well with the bat this series on occasion, are unbeaten on 8 and 6 respectively.

But McDonald said that it would be an advantage to Australia if Bumrah is hindered given how brilliantly he has bowled this series.

“What’s the advantage? Well, clearly, he’s the leading wicket-taker of the series, so you’d say that it would be slightly beneficial for us,” he said.

“He can bowl on any surface, anywhere. He’s a threat anytime. We knew that coming in the series. He’s an incredibly talented bowler. And if he wasn’t to be there, then India would have to come up with a new plan.”

Fox Cricket experts including Brett Lee said the possibility that Bumrah might not be able to reach his peak shapes as a “massive moment in this series”, a point former Indian coach Ravi Shastri agreed with.

“Obviously he is going to see some doctors for some scans and we will know more in a little while, but this could have a massive bearing on the series,” Shastri said in commentary as footage of Bumrah leaving the SCG emerged.

McDonald, meanwhile, said Australia’s experience when chasing runs in the second innings stands the hosts in good stead in their bid to win back the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 2014.

While Australia cannot lose the series given it has a 2-1 advantage, India would retain the trophy if it is able to snare victory in a Test that seems certain to finish tomorrow given the pace with which the match has progressed.

“I mean, we’ve won the toss and bowled a little bit of late, so we’ve put ourselves in those positions more often,” McDonald said.

“Every situation, every game is a different scenario (with) the surfaces, all those types of things. But I think if you’ve been there and done it before, then you take confidence in that, to be able to navigate through those scenarios, in particular the lower order, which potentially may be called upon tomorrow.”

McDonald, meanwhile, said he had spoken to Sam Konstas after the completion of play last night and was clearly bemused by the fact the entire Indian team surrounding him after securing the wicket of Usman Khawaja to end the opening day.

He made a point of noting the Indians had not even been quizzed about the incident but it was clear he was bemused by the interaction.

“My conversation to him was just around whether he’s okay. Clearly the way that India celebrated that, it was quite intimidating,” McDonald said.

“So … I mean, it’s clearly within the Laws of the Game, within the rules and regulations, so there’s been no charges laid. But to have an opposition, obviously, swarm the non-striker like that, we have got a duty of care toour player to make sure he’s okay and in a head space to go out the next day and perform. So that’s all those conversations were.”

Asked whether he thought India went to far with their celebrations, McDonald said; “It’s clear that it’s acceptable, because there was no fines or punishments. So I’ll leave that up to the ICC and obviously Andy Piecroft being the Match Referee and the umpires out there. So if they thought that it was satisfactory, then that’s the I suppose that’s the benchmark we’re playing.”

“You just got the feeling he wasn’t OK when he had that animated chat with Virat Kohli, telling him ‘You will be leading the side. I’m leaving the field’, you knew it was for more than to change his boots. Something must have happened.”

Bumrah has been India’s best bowler throughout the Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign, taking 32 wickets at 13.06 across the five Tests. Earlier on Saturday, he broke the Indian record for most wickets on a Test tour of Australia, which was previously held by spinner Bishan Singh Bedi.

Earlier in Australia’s first innings at the SCG, Bumrah removed opener Usman Khawaja and No. 3 Marnus Labuschagne, boasting figures of 2-33 from ten overs.

“They will have to really show some character and stand up here,” Shastri continued.

“I like the way Prasidh Krishna has bowled since lunch after Bumrah left. He came steaming in and got the important wicket of Alex Carey, but you can see the workload already showing on Mohammed Siraj. I think he is a tired man as well.

It is very important for India to keep things tight and Australia will have seen this.”