OTD| Stuart Broad conceded the most expensive over in Test cricket history 

The fifth test of India’s tour of England in 2021 was rescheduled to 2022 due to the outbreak of Covid-19 in India’s camp. The match which was initially scheduled to take place in Manchester in 2021 got rescheduled to Birmingham in 2022. India was leading the series 2-1 before the Test. On an overcast morning, English captain Ben Stokes won the toss and opted to bowl first. The Indian batters danced to the tunes of James Anderson and Matthew Potts’ bowling.  

The likes of Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer were back in the pavilion in under 28 overs. Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja were involved in a good partnership that rescued India from the collapse. From 98/5 at one stage, India recovered well and found themselves at 371/8 after 79.4 overs. That’s when Indian captain Jasprit Bumrah walked in to face England’s Stuart Broad. 

Ravindra Jadeja was removed by James Anderson after a well-made 104(194). Bumrah was ready to face Broad. The right-arm-bowler bowled a bouncer to the Indian captain for that match. Bumrah gave a slog and the ball traveled towards the deep fine-leg region. Zak Crawley dropped the catch, as the ball crossed the boundary ropes. India fetched four runs from the first delivery of the over. The very next ball, Broad attempted another bouncer, which was way above Bumrah’s head and a bit too much for the keeper to collect. The umpire signaled 4 Wides as India fetched five runs.  

Broad attempted yet another bouncer the following delivery. Bumrah gave a wild swing at the delivery, which took the top edge of Bumrah’s bat and flew away for a six over the keeper’s head. The umpire signaled a no-ball as India fetched 7 runs from the delivery. With six extras, a boundary, and a maximum, Broad had conceded 16 runs in the over already with just one legal delivery. Captain Stokes went to Broad and had some words. 

Broad tried a yorker delivery to Bumrah, but failed, as the batter got a full toss nearly at the waist-high. Bumrah cleared the mid-on fielder and the ball raced away to the boundary. In two legal deliveries of the over, India had hit 20 runs. Broad was confused all around. The following delivery was on a good length but took the inside edge of the batter and reached the boundary ropes. The bowler could only smile about it. With that boundary, India completed 400 runs in the innings. 

Broad went round the wicket for the following delivery and bowled a short ball aimed at Bumrah’s waist. Bumrah pulled the ball over the square leg without balance and fell off. But the power was enough to take the ball to the boundary. Siraj, the non-striker, had a laugh about it with Bumrah. Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, and everyone else in India’s dressing room laughed at the shot. The bowler was disappointed. It was 28 runs in the four legal deliveries. 

Broad bowled a similar delivery to the previous one. Bumrah pulled it over the deep fine leg and fetched six more runs. The Indian batters in the middle, the players, and the coach in the dressing room enjoyed the shot. Nine fielders were sent outside the circle to stop a boundary on the last delivery. Broad nailed a yorker on the last delivery of the over. Bumrah defended it perfectly and claimed a run. A total of 35 runs came in the over, which is the most in an over of Test cricket.