Akash Deep took four wickets in England’s first innings at the Edgbaston, and when the English batters returned to the crease again, he proved himself once more – this time, even more lethal and effective.
After castling Ben Duckett in the fifth over of England’s chase, he struck with a peach of a delivery in the second ball of the 11th over to send the struggling Joe Root packing. The right-arm fast bowler created an angle before releasing the delivery. He brought the ball into the right-handed Root. The ball then moved away slightly, beating Root completely and hitting the top of off stump. With Mohammed Siraj removing Zak Crawley earlier, England ended the day at 72 for 3 in their chase of 608.
Former England pacer Stuart Broad was full of praise for Akash Deep and decoded the magic at Edgbaston by comparing his bowling with that of the England pacers on a lifeless wicket in the second Test.
“He brings the stumps into play, nips the ball – even with the second new ball with Harry Brook (in the first innings) – through the gate and off stump out of the ground,” Broad told Sky Sports. “He’s a real threat and, you know, India have to use him wisely again on the final day. He’s bowled wicket-taking balls tonight. Start with him tomorrow while the ball’s hard and while the ball’s still got a bit of newness to it, and then maybe if he needs a rest until the next new ball comes, that’s fine,” said Broad.
Talking about Root’s dismissal in the second innings by Akash Deep, Broad pointed out how the use of the crease helped the Indian bowler castle England’s all-time highest run-getter in Test cricket.
“Using the crease. It’s crucial. It’s a skill and an art that every Test match bowler should have,” said Broad.
“Every bowler should have it really. I mean, how I used to sort of view it was: a batter will always line up the same to you. If you can change your release position by a couple of inches at a time, they’re not necessarily turning their shoulders or their feet position. So that little movement can be that half-bat-width distance that can catch the edge or make them miss it and hit the stump,” said Broad.
“You should practise that in the nets, and if you’re going to play league cricket this weekend, just practise changing your angles just slightly at the back end of your run. Just go a foot wider but still imagine you’re running in at off stump and just work with that, because if there’s no swing in the air, you suddenly get a different angle that you can work with,” added Broad.