by By Phil Campbell
REECE TOPLEY played with some of the best bowlers nearby, but nobody comes close to Jasprit Bumrah, whom he calls the “greatest ever”.
The Indian superstar may have been on the loser in Headingley during the first test against England, but Bumrah’s first innings, which showed figures from 5-110, was another master class in fast bowling.
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It is something that England International Topley has seen up close after playing with Bumrah in Mumbai Indians during the last edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
And although there are often discussions about the best batteries and bowlers ever, for Topley when it comes to the latter, there are no.
“For me, I don’t think it’s a debate,” said Topley and said at Lords Tavernens’ National Table Cricket Finalt Day – a fully integrative, adapted version of the game that is aimed at young people with a variety of learning and physical disabilities at a table tennis table.
“It is probably the rare opportunity in sport where you agree to many people at the greatest of all time. And we see with Bumrah that there is no real restriction that someone else has thrown into the ring.
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“He is in his own league in the present. There are yesterday’s greats that I and the people my age have never really seen, but some of these players, Bumrah, he is exactly with these people up there, which is incredible.
“T20 is obviously a form other than tests, but he spends time with him in the IPL, he is humble, he is competitive, he has everything. He is a superstar in every respect.”
The outfit of Brendon McCullum took over a 1-0 lead in West Yorkshire on Tuesday in West Yorkshire, after he had followed 371-England’s second highest success in test cricket.
The front and center of England’s indictment was the opener Ben Duckett, whose brilliant and destructive 149 dull India bowling attack and broke her goal.
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When the man from Nottinghamshire, caught in the ceiling to send the ball for his 22nd border – his heroic deeds swung the procedure in England’s favor, with Jamie Smith later chasing up a six around six to seal the victory.
It was a second attack that Bumrah couldn’t even stop – the quick one while he was taking a Wicket during his 19 overs – and Topley was full of praise for the way England negated his threat.
Like all sizes, they have days when they show that they are people.
“It is incredible that he was on the last day [Bumrah] I didn’t take a Wicket, ”continued Topley.
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“And that itself is such a rare event.
“But that is proof of how well England played it and how well it developed.”
There were also many other impressive achievements during the game.
Ollie Pope’s first inning hundred, Harry Brooks Destroyed 99, Zak Crawleys 65 During his first-time partnership from 188 with Duckett second time and Josh Tongue’s match transport of seven gates, to name just a few.
And Topley believes that the quality that can be seen in Leeds takes up the rest of the series for the upcoming cricket.
“Headingley always seems to open these amazing chase, and loan has to go to the field there, it is famous for his daily financial statements,” he added.
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“And the cricket that was played on it was unsurpassed.
“It was entertaining on the first day of Ball One, to the goal.
“Hopefully it will be for an amazing series and you will be much more incredible cricket to be played.”
In his own return to the international setup, which last played for England in November 2024 and currently has a good shape with Surrey: “It takes two to tango.
“I definitely know that I have the ability, so we have to see.”
The Lord’s Taverners affect the life of young people who face the challenges of inequality. The charity organization works throughout the UK and beyond to provide integrative and effective cricket programs and to enable young people with disabilities and disadvantaged communities – visit www.lordstaverners.org
