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This article was first published 9 years ago

'Good feeling to do well at Lord's'

July 19, 2014 09:51 IST

Image: Bhuvneshwar Kumar in action during Day 2 of the first Test between England and India at Trent Bridge
Photographs: Stu Forster/Getty Images

India medium pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar is of the view that the onus is on his bowling to quickly get rid of the remaining English batsmen on Saturday, Day 3 of the second Test, at Lord's.

He had figures of 4 for 46 as the hosts' scored 219 for 6 in their first innings by stumps in reply to India's 295.

Scorecard

"I am enjoying bowling in England. It is definitely a good feeling to do well at Lord's," he said, reflecting on his incisive spells.

"I have been watching Test cricket at this ground since I was a child and this is something I have been looking forward to for a long time."

Talking about the disciplined performance of the Indian bowling attack on Day 2, he added, "The plan is to bowl outside the off-stump. There has been assistance from the wicket in this Test, but even then it is important to stay disciplined.

"We learnt from the English bowling on Day 1 and we saw that they bowled too short at times. So we watched and learnt what lengths to bowl and adjusted our bowling accordingly."

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'There is still some help in the pitch for our bowlers'

Image: Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Photographs: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

India’s bowlers did not allow the English batsmen to settle down at any stage during the day's play and at one stage they were reduced to 113-4 before Gary Ballance's second Test century -- and a second one at Lord's in two matches -- saved the day for them.

"Now it is a little bit easy to bat as the wicket is easing out a bit. But there is still some help in the pitch for our bowlers and we need to take more wickets tomorrow.

"It will be easier for the batsmen to bat on Day 3 but it can be difficult if we can bowl in the right areas," said Bhuvneshwar.

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'I have learnt a lot from Praveen Kumar'

Image: Bhuvneshwar Kumar celebrates dismissing England batsman Gary Ballance on Day 2 of the second Test at Lord's
Photographs: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

The medium pacer, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, considers Praveen Kumar his personal hero. His team-mate was India’s star bowler on the ill-fated 2011 tour.

"I have learnt a lot from Praveen Kumar. I have bowled with him earlier and I even had a chat with him before coming here (England).

"In the IPL, I learnt from Dale Steyn. Our bowling styles are quite different, but he is a great bowler and you can always pick something from the way he bowls. He has given me a lot of tips during matches which I have tried in my bowling," revealed Bhuvneshwar.

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'I am enjoying batting as well in England'

Image: Bhuvneshwar Kumar bats on Day 2 of the first Test at Trent Bridge
Photographs: Jan Kruger/Getty Images

But it isn't just bowling that he is excelling in on the ongoing tour. He has had two fifties so far, both of them scored during the first Test at Trent Bridge.

Even at Lord's, on Day 1, he added a valuable 36 runs with Ajinkya Rahane and their 90-run partnership helped steer India towards a healthy total.

"I am enjoying batting as well in England. It always gives you pleasure when you score runs in Test cricket.

"Coach Duncan Fletcher talks about how important runs are from the number 9, 10 and 11 batsmen, so I have been working hard in the nets to help the team."