It’s getting harder to play all three formats and Jasprit Bumrah has to decide on it: Glenn McGrath | Cricket News

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The uniqueness of his action makes Jasprit Bumrah a deadly fast bowler. Perhaps, it’s the very same reason why the Gujarat pacer has been plagued by injuries during his seven-year international career.

After undergoing surgery on his back in March, the 29-year-old is bracing himself for yet another comeback and has been named captain of the Indian team for the T20 series against Ireland in two weeks.

With the ODI World Cup to be played in India in two months, everyone is watching Bumrah’s return, after almost a year, with bated breath.

One man who is excited by Bumrah’s comeback is Glenn McGrath. The former Aussie pacer, who had his share of injuries during his playing career has a lot of empathy for the Indian seamer. “He (Bumrah) has been incredible for India. His bowling stats, the wickets he has taken, and the way he bowls, I’m a big fan. His bowling action puts a lot of stress on his body. So he needs to stay strong and fit. If he does that he could play for a few more years,” the 53-year-old said on the sidelines of a fast bowlers’ camp organised by the MRF Pace Foundation, where he is the director.

When the Aussie was specifically asked whether giving up one of the three formats, especially after the ODI World Cup, will help Bumrah prolong his career, McGrath said, “With the current international schedule and the IPL, there is no off-season anymore for a fast bowler, especially for someone like Jasprit, who needs an off-season to pull his strength back in. So that’s a decision he needs to make himself (on whether to give up on one of the formats). It’s getting harder to play all three formats. That is something Jasprit will have to think about moving forward because what he does is unique and is quite tough on his body too. I think he has a lot more to offer for the rest of his career.”
And it’s just not Bumrah’s bowling that has made McGrath happy in India. The large pool of pacers the country has produced in the last decade has impressed the veteran seamer and he attributes it to the renewed focus on fast bowling. “India is probably the toughest place to be a fast bowler. Pitches are not that juicy here. But now young (seam) bowlers are coming from India, whom probably we haven’t seen before. It’s because fast bowling here wasn’t as focused as it is now. If you succeed here, you can succeed anywhere in the world as a fast bowler,” added McGrath.

The veteran of many Ashes battles felt that the just concluded series between England and Australia was a great advertisement for Test cricket. “From the first game to the last, every session changed. I think Test cricket to me is the ultimate and we need to look out for it. I want to see people come back for Test cricket and in that sense Ashes was exceptional.”
The quickie is an admirer of England’s Bazball but feels that it is not the only way to play modern-day cricket. “We saw two teams going out with two different strategies (Ashes). England with what they call Bazball and Australia probably with a conventional form of Test cricket. Both have their place in the game,” he said.
McGrath feels the ODI World Cup will be a closely fought one and predicted his semifinalists. “You wouldn’t be surprised I’m putting Australia in that four. Obviously, India are playing in their own conditions. England are playing some great cricket and Pakistan are also playing fine. So they are the best four,” McGrath signed off.