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Former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn has suggested that introducing free hit in Test cricket will help tailenders survive for longer when bowlers bowl no balls. Indian pacers bowled a series of bouncers to the Proteas lower-order, prompting Steyn to put out a tweet.
Steyn tweeted: “Free hit for No Ball in Test Cricket… What you think? Will definitely help the bowlers (when batting) survive those extended 7/8 and sometimes 9 ball overs we’ve seen happen before… 6 balls is Hard enough for the tailenders facing a top class life threatening fast bowler.”
After the fall of Keegan Petersen’s wicket, India’s Umesh Yadav started to bowl a series of short deliveries to the Proteas lower order batters Kagiso Rabada and Duanne Olivier.
While Olivier saw through Yadav, the pacer from Vidharba hit Rabada on the side of the helmet during the 70th over which prompted the umpire to call for the physio to check for concussion. Earlier, Olivier managed to survive a hostile spell of fast bowling of Jasprit Bumrah. During the 67th over, he had to face a total of seven deliveries in the over as Bumrah overstepped.
On the other hand, a similar barrage of short deliveries was seen in Johannesburg Test when South African pacers bowled to India's lower order. As a result of continous short balls from Marco Jansen followed by some words on follow-through, Bumrah was frustrated and reacted but the umpire intervened before it escalated any further.
On Day 2 of the decider, Bumrah led the Indian pace attack, picking up his seventh five-wicket haul in Test Cricket, returning with figures of 5/42. He was equally well complimented by Yadav and Mohammed Shami who scalped two wickets each whereas Shardul Thakur picked one wicket.
Steyn later put out another tweet congratulating Bumrah for his spell as he tweeted, “Anyway, makes for a interesting discussion. Serious Test Match happening here, well bowled Bumrah for the 5“.
