Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri heaped praise on Jasprit Bumrah’s ability to quickly read an opposition batter’s strengths and weaknesses as well as the playing conditions, likening the fast bowler to the legendary Malcolm Marshall. Bumrah has been leading India’s charge in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, breaking records at will in Australia.
Bumrah has taken 21 wickets in three Tests at a staggering average of 10.90. No other bowler in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has managed to claim more than 15 wickets so far after three Tests. The Indian pace-bowling spearhead has been head and shoulders above the rest with his remarkable ability to adapt to the conditions in Australia. Bumrah also stood in for Rohit Sharma in the series opener, leading the team to a commanding 295-run victory in Perth.
advertisement
“He’s a terrific reader of the game when it comes to batsmen. I thought when I played the best bowler I played against was Malcolm Marshall, because of his ability to suss out conditions, read batsmen’s strengths and weaknesses. I think Bumrah is in that category. He’s so quick to suss the strengths and weaknesses of a player,” Ravi Shastri told Fox Cricket.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Full Coverage
“He’s taken close to 200 wickets and close to a hundred in India, and he’s taken those at 17. In India, you must realise the ball starts reversing, because of the rough conditions. So if he doesn’t take wickets with the new ball, he’s dangerous at the end.”
Bumrah, with 53 wickets, is already the leading wicket-taker for India in Australia in Test cricket, going past Kapil Dev’s tally of 51 in the third Test in Brisbane. The Indian fast bowler needs one more wicket to become the most successful in the country at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Tests. With 15 wickets, he is currently tied with Anil Kumble.
Bumrah will be key to India’s success in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. With Mohammed Shami ruled out, Bumrah will hope for better support from fellow pacers, including Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep.
HE IS ABSOLUTELY RELENTLESS: SHASTRI
Meanwhile, Ravi Shastri said he expects a baptism by fire for teenage opener Sam Konstas, who is all set to make his Test debut in Melbourne on Thursday.
Bumrah made life difficult for Nathan McSweeney, who was dropped after the first three Tests of the series.
“Bumrah is up for the challenge, he loves bowling at the MCG. I remember his six-wicket haul when I was a coach when he just dismantled Australia,” Shastri said.
“He’s in that kind of form, he just takes wickets for fun in Australia. It’s ridiculous. There’s no respite because he’s at the peak of his powers and what he does with the new ball makes it difficult for any batsmen. He swings it and seams it both ways, he’s absolutely relentless,” he added.
With the series tied at 1-1, both India and Australia will be keen on landing the first punch when they meet in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
Tune In
Must Watch
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
