England completely lost the plot seeking revenge after Anderson-Bumrah bouncers saga, reckons Steve Harmison

India is up against England on day five of the Lord’s Test and are trying their very best to turn the game in their favour. Though India’s top and middle order couldn’t bring anything substantial in the game apart from Ajinkya Rahane, the tailenders did all the damage to the hosts. India’s ace pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami pulled off an unimaginable feat at the Lord’s.

In the same sequence of events, former bowler Steve Harmison added that young bowlers lost their way while seeking revenge for veteran James Anderson. Bumrah bowled a couple of bouncers to Anderson earlier and it looked like the whole lot of England kept focusing on that matter only and couldn’t move ahead. While Shami played an absolutely classy inning of 56*, Bumrah supported him from the other end by adding 34*.

Harmison added that the state of confusion between England bowlers only added to their woes and allowed India’s tail to settle in well. Owing to brilliance produced by Bumrah and Shami, India declared on 298/8 as both pacers stitched a sturdy partnership of 89 runs for the ninth wicket.

England just seemed to get one eye off trying to get Bumrah out by bouncers: Steve Harmison

“They completely lost the plot. That half an hour period after getting Rishabh Pant, what on earth happened to the England cricket team? They didn’t have any slips, no catchers in any position while bowling at numbers 9 and 10. A good ball to Virat Kohli is a good ball to Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah.

“When the verbals were coming round, it was good entertainment. You want to see two passionate groups going head-to-head. But England just seemed to get one eye off trying to get Jasprit Bumrah out by bowling bouncers at him. India though played fantastic cricket.”

Harmison also added that nobody really needed to stand up for Anderson who already has more than enough experience in his bag. Talking about the game currently, England is playing on 67/4 (at the time of writing) with Joe Root and Jos Buttler on the crease.