Michael Holding speaks against the warnings given to Ishant Sharma

Team India made a remarkable comeback in the third and fourth Test against England. Suddenly, the batting and bowling has clicked well for them, even though they dearly missed bagging a bigger lead on the third day of the fourth Test in Southampton. The pace trio of Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah were right on the money in both the innings. The only problem they had was with Ishant getting two warnings from the umpires.

The right-arm pacer who in the fourth Test, became the third Indian bowler to scalp 250 Test wickets had to change his plans right at the start of England’s second innings. He was bowling around the wicket to left-handers in the first session, an angle that suits him the best. However, in the process, the quick was running close to the danger area – a zone between the stumps where a bowler is not allowed to step.

Ishant stepped in the middle of it once and was marginally close on the second occasion. It was the second step on his follow-through that the tall pacer drifted in the danger area. He received two warnings – in the 14th and 18th overs respectively, before being forced to bowl over the wicket to avoid stepping into the danger zone. Bowling over the wicket enables the ball to go away with the angle and movement, thereby helping the batsmen to read deliveries easily.

As per the rule if a bowler is warned twice and he still repeats the offence he will be barred from bowling again in the innings. Ishant had to be careful and switch to over the wickets to ensure that was not the case.

“James Anderson kept coming close time and time again but was never called. That was definitely not close enough to be given the second warning,” said West Indian great Michael Holding talking in support of Sharma during the live broadcast.

Indian quicks have produced a great show

As for his overall bowling this series, it has been a fine show. Besides grabbing 250 Test wickets, Ishant also became the first Indian to take three wickets in one over outside Asia since Anil Kumble did it in Adelaide in 2003-04.

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