WATCH: Ishant Sharma’s scorching inswinger to dismiss Jos Buttler

Bowling after more than a month on the sidelines, India’s experienced quick Ishant Sharma had a quest to regain his rhythm and optimum pace in England’s first innings of the second Test at Lord’s. The fast bowler nearly had opener Rory Burns out nicking behind with the new ball late on Day 2, but otherwise, […]
 
?width=963&height=541&resizemode=4
WATCH: Ishant Sharma’s scorching inswinger to dismiss Jos Buttler

Bowling after more than a month on the sidelines, India’s experienced quick Ishant Sharma had a quest to regain his rhythm and optimum pace in England’s first innings of the second Test at Lord’s.

The fast bowler nearly had opener Rory Burns out nicking behind with the new ball late on Day 2, but otherwise, it had been since an understandable struggle and search for the control and consistency that is usually associated with him.

Despite that, however, Ishant produced arguably the best wicket-taking ball of the Indian bowling effort and dismissed England’s dangerous wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler.

Also ReadIshant Sharma reveals that MS Dhoni retired from Tests to groom Wriddhiman Saha for the future

In a moment of reward for some evident toil and persistence, the fast bowler got his man with a beauty off the final delivery in the 91st over of the England innings.

WATCH: Ishant Sharma’s scorching inswinger to dismiss Jos Buttler

WATCH: Rishabh Pant Shows He, Not Virat Kohli, Is India’s DRS Man Yet Again

 

WATCH: Ishant Sharma’s scorching inswinger to dismiss Jos Buttler

Ishant Sharma got Jos Buttler with a beauty at Lord’s.

Ishant Sharma dismantles the stumps with a beauty to get Jos Buttler out

Up until that point, Ishant had bowled nearly 19 overs without any wicket and although he had given away just over 50 runs only, it was evident that the pacer is not at his best. But just when India’s ever eager fanbase started to raise a question mark on his performance, Ishant produced a terrific ball that dismantled the stumps.

Having pushed Buttler’s weight back through earlier deliveries, Ishant Sharma bowled a real full one that swung sharply into the batter and sneaked through the gap big gap between his bat and pads while he attempted an expensive drive.

 

It was a moment of great relief for Ishant, who finally had a wicket after a seven-week period away from action since the final of the maiden World Test Championship (WTC) against New Zealand in June. The 32-year-old did not play the game against a County Select XI in Durham and was also not played in the first Test against England at Trent Bridge because of an injury concern.

Ishant has been a Test cricketer transformed in the last three years for India. Since January 2018, he has taken 81 wickets from 24 Tests at an average of just 20.34, with four five-wicket hauls. His wickets tally and the average is bettered in this period by only one Indian bowler – Ravichandran Ashwin, who hasn’t been considered for the first two Tests of the ongoing series.