Joe Root’s men may wish to give appeasement a try against a side that knows how to play the intimidation game
Jasprit Bumrah was about to face his first delivery of the day from Mark Wood, but before he did he needed a little help. While Joe Root moved his field around, Haseeb Hameed stooped to tie the tail-ender’s shoelaces for him. It was the last tender gesture he would receive from an
England player.
The first ball from Wood was a bouncer so fast it had passed Bumrah’s head before he had time to swat at it. James Anderson, fielding at third man, turned towards Ollie Robinson at fine leg and chuckled. The next wasn’t as high, but it was even faster. The speed gun registered 94mph and Wood, at the end of his follow through, registered a couple of thoughts on Bumrah’s batting style.