England’s new entertaining style took a strange turn when Stuart Broad was bowled for the most expensive over in Test history by India’s number 10 Jasprit Bumrah. A total of 35 runs came from Broad’s set, surpassing the previous record of 28, which was achieved three times. In chaotic, comical and downright funny scenes on the second morning of the fifth Test at Edgbaston, Bumrah hit two sixes and four fours. Broad’s situation worsened when one of the sixes went no-ball and another delivery went for five wides. It meant that Bumrah, a paceman with a Test average of six, set a record for a winning run against a bowler who had just claimed his 550th career wicket. Bumrah, standing as India’s captain, also set a new record for most runs with the bat in a single Test over – 29. The previous record of 28 was jointly held by Australian George Bailey and West Indies legend Brian Lara, meaning Bamrah has beaten the record by one of the game’s all-time greats. Lara served his punishment on South African spinner Robin Pietersen in 2003, while Bailey’s attack was on Broad’s long-time partner James Anderson in an Ashes Test in Perth in 2013. Coincidentally, England’s Joe Root, who was on the field at Edgbaston, had also previously bowled 28, but only 24 of those runs were out of contention. It is also the second time in Broad’s career that he has set an unwanted record with the ball. In 2007 he became the first bowler to be hit for six sixes in a Twenty20 international when he was bowled by India’s Yuvraj Singh. The chaos caused by Bumrah compounded a poor morning for England as India were reduced to 338-7 in 416 overnight. Although England were able to remove Ravindra Jadeja for 104 and Mohammed Shami for 16, their silly short-ball tactics allowed Bumrah to punish Broad in one of the strangest overs ever seen in Test cricket. When Yuvraj smashed Broad for six sixes in a row
How the chaos unfolded
Ball one – four runs – A top edge on a short ball teases Zak Crawley at fine leg but it bounces to the boundary. Ball two – five wide – Very short, over everyone’s head including wicketkeeper Sam Billings. Ball three – no ball, six runs – A top edge flies over the slips, hitting the billboards in quick tones. The no-ball means it’s seven in total and Broad has conceded 16 from three legal deliveries. Ball four – four runs – The wheels are off now. Broad serves a full toss that Bumrah tries to mid on for four. Ball five – four runs – It’s all Bumrah. Even an inside edge goes for four. Start looking for the record books. Ball six – four runs – Bumrah gets off his feet for a boundary on the leg side. He has equaled the Test record 28 from an over with two balls to spare. Ball seven – six runs – Unbelievable. Bumrah breaks the record with his second six as another short ball swings into the stands at fine leg. Ball eight – one run – The final insult. Broad finally bowls, Bumrah digs it out and wants a single. Broad is in a match against non-striker Mohammed Siraj. Both men dive, Broad destroys the stumps but Siraj is home. The over has cost 35 runs.
“Chaotic”, “amazing”, “brainless” – that’s what they said
Former England player Mark Ramprakash: “It was so chaotic. It was an amazing passage of play, mainly because Stuart Broad is such an experienced bowler, but England had their men spread around a lot – even Ben Stokes was in long. It was exciting strokeplay with a bit of luck. “The short ball barrage became very predictable. Bumrah was just sitting back knowing what was coming.” Former England spinner Phil Tufnell: “I don’t understand it [the tactics]. England have done it again and it is the definition of madness. “I know we’re in this new fantastic era where everything’s great and everything’s positive, but that’s just annoying because as much as they want to go out there and bat positively now, with 400 on the board they’re going to have to dig in a bit too. “I’ve never been a fan of the short-ball tactic in lower-order batsmen, especially guys like Shami and Bumrah who can really play that shot well when they know it’s coming every ball. What happened to the top of off stump with the new ball?’ Test Match Commentator Daniel Norcross: “I’ve just seen some of the most careless no-brainers I’ve ever seen on a cricket pitch. You wait 30 overs to get your hands on the new ball and decide what to do with it In short, the numbers 10 and 11 are in and there are no slips in place!” Watch: Ravindra Jadeja’s ‘absolutely magnificent innings’ for India
