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England icon and talk SPORT pundit Steve Harmison believes there is no chance that Jasprit Bumrah misses a single Test this summer. There are suggestions from India that the lethal fast bowler will only play three of the five-match series. This is due to Bumrah's ongoing injury issues, which have limited his appearances in recent times. But judging by the first innings at Headingley, the visitors are going to need him if they are to beat England. The 31-year-old claimed five wickets for 83 runs, including Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Joe Root. Meanwhile, the rest of the India bowlers combined for the other five wickets but went for 387 runs. So, it's clear just how important Bumrah is. Therefore, any suggestion that he would miss even a single Test isn't something that Harmison can see happening. Speaking on talk SPORT Breakfast with Shebahn Aherne and Troy Deeney, he said: "He's one of [the best to ever play]. "It's hard to say someone is the best that has ever lived while they are still playing. "He is phenomenal. His numbers won't show that in the end because he's had a lot of injuries, and because he plays all formats, they are talking about protecting him in this series. "The word out of India is he's only going to play three Test matches. "I'd be amazed if he was only going to play three Test matches. It's like going to a World Cup and saying Harry Kane can only play one group game - it just isn't going to happen. "England have to prepare as if he's going to play four or all five. He is phenomenal. " Harmison then went on to wax lyrical about one of Bumrah's spells during this opening Test. He said: "On day two, he got Zak Crawley and Harry Brook off a no-ball, and that passage of about half-an-hour was as good cricket I've seen in England possibly ever. "He was ferocious. He was bowling in excess of 90mph, and he was bowling at batter's toes and heads. "The crowd were very vocal throughout the day, but you could have heard a pin drop when he was bowling because everyone was enthralled by what was happening on the field. "He is one of the greatest, and when his time is done, he will go down as one of the all-time greats. " Bumrah has only played 45 Test matches for India, but he has over 200 wickets in that time, so though he's never going to be on a list for the most wickets, the rate he takes them at is incredible. This is a bowler who can also do it in all conditions as well, taking scalps on home soil, in England and Australia. However, by his own admission, he won't be playing more than three Tests in this series. Speaking to former India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik for Sky Sports, he said: "The body is feeling good, no issues, no complaints. I always try to look after my body and do everything in my power. Coming into this series, I have prepared really well. "I have to be smart as well as I am not becoming younger by the day. I have to take care of my body as I would love to play for longer and contribute in all three formats. "I plan on the go but three Test matches is what I am looking at, what I can manage at this moment. "The first is definitely going to happen, the rest we see how things are, what is the workload, what are the scenarios. Hopefully, in the games I play, I give my absolute best. " But judging by the evidence so far, India would be struggling without their star man, and Harmy can't see him missing a game. Keep up to date with all the latest news and interviews on the talk SPORT Cricket You Tube channel. © 2025 talk SPORT Limited

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