NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan batsman Salman Butt believes that it will be very important for pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar to be in Team India for the upcoming Test series against England. India suffered a crushing defeat in the historic final of the World Test Championship (WTC) against New Zealand in Southampton. After this, questions were also raised on the Indian pace attack. India went with the trio of Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma but failed to do well for the team. Shami tasted some success in the first innings while most of the bowlers remained out of form in the second innings. Bumrah could not take any wicket in both the innings.
Butt feels that India should go into the England series with swing bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Bhuvi was not part of the 20-man Test squad for the England tour and is currently in Sri Lanka where India will play a limited overs series under the captaincy of Shikhar Dhawan. Salman said on Cricket Baaz, ‘I think Bhuvneshwar should have been with the Indian team. After all, he is India’s best swing bowler but didn’t take him along. The amount of swing and seam was visible on this pitch, I think Bhuvneshwar should have been with the Test team too. The fast bowlers who played the WTC finals are all ‘hit the deck’ bowlers.
Bhuvi then he has 19 wickets at an average of 26.63 in England and then two Bar innings also took five wickets. As seen during the WTC final, the conditions there were suitable for a swing bowler and Butt believes Bhuvneshwar is the current best in the same department. Butt compared this fast bowler to England’s legendary pacer James Anderson.
He said, “In terms of bowlers who release the ball and swing it, Bhuvneshwar Kumar comes in the same category as James Anderson of England. He is that kind of bowler. So I thought he would have been better for the team but this is his team. They know more about the players and think tanks. Maybe he decided what is best for him but I think Bhuvneshwar should have been on the tour of England. He is still needed for the England Test.
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