It’s a common term in cricket — fast bowlers hunt in pairs. And when the leader of the pack, in this case Jasprit Bumrah runs through the top order to set the tone, it often eases off the pressure from the younger lot.
Putting behind the batting blues of the opening day, India came back strongly to gain firm control over the Perth Test against Australia with openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and K L Rahul taking the first-innings lead of 46 - earned through a Jasprit Bumrah fifer - and stretched it past 200 by the end of the second day’s play at the Optus Stadium on Saturday.
On the eve of the opening Test of the latest tussle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth, Jasprit Bumrah had stressed starting a new tradition of fast bowlers being handed Test captaincy.
Stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah affirmed that his side is not carrying "any baggage" from India of their historic whitewash against New Zealand and offered surety about the team being well equipped for the challenging conditions and series ahead of them.
While the Kangaroos have bested India to claim the World Test Championship 2023 final but Hazlewood felt that winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade has been high up on their wishlist.
The team triumphed over Australia 3-2 in their final group match on Friday, marking India's first Olympic win against Australia in 52 years. The Chief Minister extended his congratulations to the team and the nation, expressing his hope that their winning streak continues.
Having paid the price for skipping Perth as a Test venue during India’s last tour of Australia in 2020-21, Cricket Australia on Tuesday announced Perth to host the opening Test while unveiling their international calendar for next summer with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as the home season’s showpiece event.
At the ongoing World Cup, India are on a similar invincible run. However, Australia skipper Pat Cummins doesn’t like to live in past glory.
Title favourites India secured their place in the summit clash with an unblemished 10-match undefeated run while the Kangaroos resurrected their campaign with an eight-match winning streak after having started with two defeats.
“We’ll be ready in terms of anything they’ll throw at us,” said Australia skipper Pat Cummins on the eve of the final.
