Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian pace spearhead, has earned a reputation as one of the most formidable bowlers in the world. His unique bowling action and exceptional skill have left both past and present Australian players in awe.
On his previous Test tours of Australia, Bumrah has taken 32 wickets at an average of 21.25, including a match-winning 6/33 during the 2018 Boxing Day Test. Since the start of the 20th century, only two touring bowlers have taken more wickets in Australia at a lower average — Richard Hadlee and Curtly Ambrose.
Australian batters are unanimous about the pivotal role Bumrah can play for India in the upcoming five-match Test series. Travis Head described him as “impossible to face,” while Usman Khawaja and Steven Smith acknowledged his ability to strike fear into the hearts of batsmen.
Part of Bumrah’s magic lies in his unconventional bowling action. Brett Lee, the former Australian pace legend, likened it to that of a “cat burglar.” Khawaja admitted that he initially struggled to understand where the ball was coming from when facing Bumrah.
Smith, who has an impressive record against Bumrah, still feels vulnerable against him early in his innings. He attributed this to Bumrah’s awkward bowling rhythm, which takes some time to adjust to.
Bumrah’s exceptional skill and ability to unsettle batters make him a key player for India in the upcoming Test series. His presence will undoubtedly pose a significant challenge to the Australian batting lineup.
