Jasprit Bumrah at Lord’s: When habit meets tradition

Jasprit Bumrah at Lord's: When Habit Meets Tradition

Jasprit Bumrah's inevitable moment arrived early on the second afternoon at Lord's, with a couple of assists from Mohammed Siraj. Bumrah's first ball to Jofra Archer nipped back sharply to tilt the stumps, adding to his list of victims, including Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, and Joe Root.

Despite his achievement, Bumrah didn't celebrate, instead letting Siraj raise his hand that held the red ball, a quiet confirmation. On Ruth Strauss Day, it felt fitting that the best bowler of this generation was etched into the old wooden honours board, folded into Lord's enduring ritual.

However, for India, it hardly felt like something new. Bumrah's habit of taking wickets has become routine, and he's long reconciled to the disjoint between craft and result. On the opening day, Bumrah bowled with control, but the scorecard didn't reflect it. He's learned to separate good bowling from outcome, resisting the urge to chase what isn't there.

On the second morning, India needed something tangible from him, and he delivered, taking 3 for 20 from five overs, with a false shot percentage of 36.6. His mastery was on full display, pushing Harry Brook back with a short ball, then pinning him with the nip-backer.

Bumrah's story is one of habit and tradition, etched deep into India's muscle memory. He's a bowler who strikes once every 42 balls in Test cricket, making the remarkable feel ordinary. Despite his own injuries and breaks, he remains ahead of the pack, the clear leader among all-format bowlers.

Watching Bumrah remains a spectacle, but his brilliance has begun to feel routine. As if this is simply the standard. The baseline.