Australian pace legend Glenn McGrath has suggested that India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah deserves an ‘off-season’ as his bowling action with an ‘extensive effort’ creates pressure on him, which could lead to injuries and breakdowns.
Bumrah, who underwent a surgery for stress fracture on his back in March last year, has spent considerable time out of action, which saw him miss the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia and the IPL 2023.
The 30-year-old made a stellar return to international cricket when he was handed the captaincy to lead India in their three-match T20I tour of Ireland last August, and went on to claim 20 wickets in the 50-over World Cup.
However, McGrath warned that Bumrah, whose unique technique allows him to clock 140 KPH despite a short run-up, could be vulnerable to injuries as he gains momentum in his last two strides of the run-up.
“The last two strides that he takes, he just powers into the crease. Thus, his momentum increases, and that’s where he gets the pace,” McGrath said.
“Someone like Bumrah needs an off-season because he puts so much into every ball. With so much extensive effort, he needs a break. If he keeps playing, the amount of pressure created given the bowling action he has, he is bound to get injured, which he has in the past,” the Australian added.
The current Indian pace attack is arguably one of the best attacks in world cricket, and has delivered across varying conditions. However, the lack of a quality left-arm quick, makes it a pretty one-dimensional attack. McGrath believes that the decent performances put in by the right-armers have not forced India to desperately search for a left-arm bowler.
“The Indian fast bowling has been set for a long time and hasn’t had a big turnover. The way (Mohammed) Shami, Bumrah, (Mohammed) Siraj and Umesh (Yadav) have delivered, only when they move older, we can think of having a change,” McGrath said.
“We have Avesh Khan and many others in the fray. We will see in the future. Having so many good right-arm bowlers is the reason why we haven’t seen a left-arm Indian pacer lately,” he added.
Backs hefty price tags of Cummins, Starc in IPL
Throwing his weight behind Australian quicks Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, two of the costliest players in IPL auction history, McGrath feels that the duo won’t get bogged down by the hefty price tag.
Starc was roped in for a whopping Rs 24.75 crore by the Kolkata Knight Riders whereas Australia captain Cummins was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 20 crore.
“For Starc, he chose not to come to the IPL due to personal reasons. But he comes back and gets a record price. He will be looking forward to it. On his day, if he is moving the ball around, he will be as good as any other fast bowler. The money that they have received is incredible. But they are both very experienced players and know the game well,” he said.
“They are going to go out and play well as they have done in the past. I don’t think it (the price tag) will impact them even one per cent,” McGrath said.