Ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Australian batters reveal their concerns about Jasprit Bumrah’s unorthodox bowling and his ability to dominate in big matches.
Bumrah’s Unorthodox Action Poses Challenges
Jasprit Bumrah’s unique bowling action has been a puzzle for batters worldwide, and Australian players are no exception.
Known for his toe-crushing yorkers and ability to swing the ball both ways, Bumrah has an impressive Test record in Australia, claiming 32 wickets in 7 matches at an average of 21.25.
The Australian batters were asked about facing Bumrah, to which Travis Head replied: “Impossible.”
The swashbuckling Australian batter asserted that Bumrah is always one step ahead of the batters.
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“You try to feel like you’re one step ahead, but it always feels like he’s that next step,” Head told Fox Cricket.
“Any format of the game, he’s incredible. He’s their X-factor, he’s the guy they go to every time, and more often than not, he’s able to produce for them. In big moments you want big players, and I think he’s their biggest. You’ve got your work cut out as a batter. He’s someone that’s going to be difficult over summer,” he added.
Australia’s Usman Khawaja described his first encounter with Bumrah as surprising, saying, “When I first faced Bumrah, I was like, ‘Oh where did that come from?’ It comes at you a little bit quicker than you expect because of the awkwardness of his action and how he releases the ball,” Khawaja said.
The veteran batter even compared Bumrah’s bowling to Mitchell Johnson’s, highlighting the difficulty of reading deliveries due to their unusual actions.
“Much like Mitchell Johnson, he had a weird action too. The ball used to come out and felt like it got to you quicker because you didn’t get a look at it the whole way. Jasprit’s a little bit the same, with arms going everywhere,” he added.
Key Australian Players Share Their Concerns
Travis Head labeled Bumrah as India’s “biggest player” who will likely trouble the hosts throughout the series.
He admitted that Bumrah’s ability to outthink batters adds to his threat. “He’s the guy they go to every time, and more often than not, he produces in big moments,” said Head.
Steve Smith, another seasoned batter, echoed these sentiments, admitting that despite years of facing Bumrah, it still takes him a few balls to adjust to the pacer’s rhythm. Smith remarked,
“He’s just awkward with the way he bowls, it’s obviously very different to a lot of other people. “It takes a little bit getting used to. I’ve played against him quite a lot now, and it still takes a couple of balls to get used to the different rhythm, Smith told Fox Cricket.
With Rohit Sharma’s availability uncertain for the first Test, Bumrah may also lead India, adding another layer of intrigue to the series opener.
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