Jos Buttler reveals what makes it challenging to face ‘unique’ Jasprit Bumrah

England wicket-keeper bat Jos Buttler has the experience of playing against and with Jasprit Bumrah. Short run-up, awkward action, accuracy, seam, swing, and pace – Bumrah has it all in his rich arsenal, which helps him keep the batters on the backfoot.

Buttler played with Bumrah during IPL 2016 and 2017 seasons when he was part of Mumbai Indians squad. Both Bumrah and Buttler were rising through the ranks at that stage and now the former is one of the best fast bowlers in the world.

Bumrah has been consistently breathing down the neck of the world-class batters and there is no doubt he is going to hold the key for India on the England tour.

“I don’t think there’s a bigger star in that touring squad than Jasprit Bumrah,” Jos Buttler told Stuart Broad on the For the Love of Cricket podcast.

“…facing him (Bumrah), he creates awkward angles, the run-up is unique, the action is unique. I think I have seen the side-ons (bowlers), but he delivers the ball from about a foot or even a bit more closer to the batsman than the average bowler, so the ball feels quicker even than the pace he is actually bowling at,” Buttler said.

“For me as a right-hander, it always felt like it was coming in, but he could beat me on the outside, and you sort of find yourself in a horrible position, squared up and a bit of a sitting target,” he added.

Buttler said England batters would need to play Bumrah with guile in order to savor success in the five-match series.

“He is a superstar bowler, and that’s what you expect in international cricket. You are going to come up against great players and certainly someone England will need to play well to have good success,” Buttler said.

Bumrah has taken 37 wickets in nine Test matches at an average of 26.27 in English conditions. The opening Test match between India and England will be played at Leeds, Headingley, from June 20 onwards.