Michael Clarke gives huge certificate to Jasprit Bumrah

XtraTime Web Desk: Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke opens up about the brilliant spell of Jasprit Bumrah as he said Bumrah will become the best bowler in the world.

Bumrah’s masterful bowling display destroyed Australia and reopened questions as he claimed a career-high 6-33 off 15.5 overs, his third five-wicket haul in nine overseas Tests through South Africa, England and Australia this year which have reaped 45 wickets at 21.24. That he has yet to play a home Test has jokingly been seen as a good thing, for life as a fast bowler on sub-continent decks can be back-breaking.

“Over here, it’s a little bit different – the ball does a little bit less, there is natural movement over here so as a bowler you want to be consistent,” Clarke said.

Bumrah already ranked world’s no1 8n the ODIs but surprisingly rated in only 28th spot on the Test ratings, something Clarke, commentating on the series from India, has tipped he will soon change.

“He must be a great guy to play with and to captain. He doesn’t mind the pressure or the expectations. He wants to learn and is a workhorse – not too long before he will become the best bowler in the world,” Clarke said.

While this MCG pitch needs a revamp and will almost certainly get that, Australian assistant coach Brad Haddin said the early dismissals had nothing to do with the controversial deck.

“I don’t think the wicket has played a part in any of our dismissals, to be honest. There is a little bit of rough there for (Ravindra) Jadeja to be honest but nothing out of the ordinary. There have been a few concentration lapses that have cost us,” he said.

This was India at its best, with pace and spin troubling the Australians in conditions suited to the tourists. The fast and bouncy conditions on offer in Perth last week had buoyed the home side, something Virat Kohli alluded to heading into the Melbourne Test. But in conditions lacking bounce and requiring grit and front-of-square field placings more akin to the sub-continent, the tourists had the edge.

That began when Aaron Finch flicked Ishant Sharma through the leg side only to be snapped up at short mid-wicket, sparking more debate as to whether he is the right option at the top of the order. The Victorian has 94 runs at 18.8 in five innings.

Bumrah, complete with an unorthodox run-up and an open-chested action that takes time to adjust to, then worked over Harris, who has been hit in the helmet twice by the fast bowler this series, raising concerns about his ability to handle the short ball.

Harris could not resist Bumrah despite Sharma waiting on the fine-leg boundary. That the Indian spearhead did not have to move highlighted the emerging left-hander had been suckered into the stroke.

The former WA lad had said before play he might be better off playing the short balls behind backward square but his latest undoing came after he attempted to clear the fence.

There is nowhere to hide for players these days such is the video analysis and advanced statistics on offer and Bumrah clearly knew how to exploit the Victorian opener.

Former Test opener Michael Slater suggested Harris’ earlier troubles against Bumrah were impacting his ability to play the pull shot.

“It begs the question whether he allowed that pull shot when he played it to be instinct,” Slater said on Channel Seven.

“The pull shot – when you play it well – is an instinct shot. The fact that he’d been peppered in that zone, time and time again, I reckon he was thinking about it. That’s why you’re just a little slow, you don’t gauge the bounce as well. (It appeared to be) a bit of a forced effort.”

Bumrah’s yorker is world class – and so is his variety. This was on show when he deceived Shaun Marsh lbw on the cusp of lunch with a 115 km/h slower ball.

“Last ball before lunch, Rohit (Sharma) told me: ‘You could try a slower ball, like you bowl in one-day cricket’. So I gave it a go. Nothing was really happening,” he said.

Bumrah then had Travis Head skittled after the break with a 142kmh effort delivery from wide around the crease which swung back in late and beat the South Australian for pace.

The dismissals prompted more debate about the standard of Australia’s first-class system, and what is being done to have batsmen focused more on time than runs with a willingness to fight under duress.

“The pull shot – when you play it well – is an instinct shot. The fact that he’d been peppered in that zone, time and time again, I reckon he was thinking about it. That’s why you’re just a little slow, you don’t gauge the bounce as well. (It appeared to be) a bit of a forced effort.”

Bumrah’s yorker is world class – and so is his variety. This was on show when he deceived Shaun Marsh lbw on the cusp of lunch with a 115 km/h slower ball.

“Last ball before lunch, Rohit (Sharma) told me: ‘You could try a slower ball, like you bowl in one-day cricket’. So I gave it a go. Nothing was really happening,” he said.

 

Bumrah then had Travis Head skittled after the break with a 142kmh effort delivery from wide around the crease which swung back in late and beat the South Australian for pace.

The dismissals prompted more debate about the standard of Australia’s first-class system, and what is being done to have batsmen focused more on time than runs with a willingness to fight under duress.