‘Full inswinger Waqar Younis style’ – When Mike Atherton perfectly predicted what Jasprit Bumrah would do

Indian paceman Jasprit Bumrah’s great delivery to dismiss England’s Ollie Pope and his amazing spell on Day 5 of The Oval Test invoked the feelings of watching the legendary Waqar Younis for renowned commentator Michael Atherton. 

Atherton, in fact, predicted the Pope’s dismissal and Bumrah’s delivery that did the damage to absolute perfection from the commentary box. 

On air with his Sky Sports commentary partner Michael Holding during the 65th over of the England second-innings, Atherton mentioned why Pope needs to be mindful of the sharp incoming delivery that Bumrah can bowl at any stage to him. 

Michael Atherton predicts Jasprit Bumrah’s scalp No.100 to perfection 

Ahead of the 5th ball of the over, Michael Atherton, having watched Jasprit Bumrah closely in his spell after lunch, issued a warning to Pope not to forget the inswinger that he is getting set-up for. 

Atherton noted how Bumrah is gearing himself up for an effort ball that will come in sharply after having “nag away nag away” from the off-stump on his previous deliveries. “A full inswinger, Waqar Younis style” that could well be too good for the promising English batter. 

It was a case of Atherton predicting and Bumrah delivering exactly what the commentator felt. 

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Although not a proper yorker, Pope had no answer to the the ball that jagged back into him with great pace and late movement. 

By the time the right-hander could get his bat down, the ball had done its damage and he was left to make a long, frustrating walk back to the pavilion. 

It was just reward for Jasprit Bumrah’s excellent effort in the pre lunch session where he, along with left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, hardly gave away a thing. 

With momentum now firmly behind him, Bumrah also got Jonny Bairstow out bowled with an unplayable yorker, just as Atherton predicted, in his very next over. 

Bumrah and Jadeja bowled exceptionally well to push India towards a brilliant win at The Oval. 

The visitors clinched a win by a margin of 157 runs and took an unassailable 2-1 lead in the five-match Test series. 

The fifth and final Test in Manchester begins on September 10.