Jasprit Bumrah’s incredible performance has prevented the Border-Gavaskar series from becoming completely lopsided in Australia’s favour, said pace great Glenn McGrath, lauding the India spearhead for his ball-control and ability to adapt quickly. India trail 1-2 in the five-match series that will conclude with the game here starting Friday. Bumrah has been the visiting side’s standout performer with 30 wickets so far at a jaw-dropping average of less than 20. India’s batting, however, has been poor and lacked planning.

“He has been a massive part of the Indian team and without him, the series might have been more one-sided and what he does is special,” McGrath told media-persons on the sidelines of his foundation’s cancer awareness event here.

The 54-year-old, who was among the most consistent and dreaded pacers of his era, has been actively involved in cancer awareness programmes after losing his wife Jane to the disease back in 2008.

He has been following the ongoing series and much like the rest of Australia, he too is bowled over by the Gujarat slinger’s amazing skill-set.

“Terrific young guy who has found a way to adapt. Absolutely incredible how he powers into bowl the last few steps,” McGrath said of Bumrah’s short run-up.

The man with 563 Test wickets also found eerie similarities between him and the Indian in terms of hyper-extension of their arms (when the elbow joint bends backward beyond its normal range).

He said it allows them to land the ball a few inches further.

“Got a little bit of hyper extension which I used to have as well. He is coping with it, he has incredible control both ways, guess they are managing him well. I am a massive fan of Jasprit,” said the lanky former bowler, who was nicknamed ‘Pigeon’ by his teammates for his thin legs.

Having worked at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai, McGrath is impressed with the talent pool in India and said one of his wards, Prasidh Krishna, has a bright future.

“India, with 1.4 billion people, have absolute passion for the game of cricket. Working with MRF Pace Foundation for the last 12 years, we have Prasidh Krishna, who is in the squad.

“He is a good young bowler and I think, they will have a good career ahead of him. There’s no shortage of players and (it is) not just the bowlers but also batters like Yashasvi Jaiswal.

“What’s good about these young players is they are fearless. We have got Sam Konstas who is similar.” McGrath was also glad to see that Test cricket is well and truly alive given that record crowds showed up to watch the fourth Test in Melbourne.

“The cricket that was played in Melbourne was amazing and it lasted all five days with Australia getting over the line in the final session and 370,000 fans turning up has been absolutely incredible, because Test cricket is still the ultimate.

“We need to look after (it) but the Boxing Day Test tells me that Test cricket is alive and hopefully, we will see something similar over here,” he said.

He is also confident that Mitchell Starc will be fit and available for the final Test here. But will Australia risk him? ” It also depends on the state of the Test series and it is a massive game. Australia haven’t beaten India in the last two (Border-Gavaskar) series and that is unheard of.

“This is a massive Test. Guess it will be upto Mitch and he will do anything possible to play the match.”

In this file photo dated March 12, 2022, Indian bowler Jasprit Bumrah celebrates the wicket of Sri Lankan batter Angelo Mathews during the 2nd Test cricket match between India and Sri Lanka. Bumrah has been nominated for the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Jasprit Bumrah’s incredible performance has prevented the Border-Gavaskar series from becoming completely lopsided in Australia’s favour, said pace great Glenn McGrath, lauding the India spearhead for his ball-control and ability to adapt quickly.

India trail 1-2 in the five-match series that will conclude with the game here starting Friday. Bumrah has been the visiting side’s standout performer with 30 wickets so far at a jaw-dropping average of less than 20. India’s batting, however, has been poor and lacked planning.

“He has been a massive part of the Indian team and without him, the series might have been more one-sided and what he does is special,” McGrath told media-persons on the sidelines of his foundation’s cancer awareness event here.

The 54-year-old, who was among the most consistent and dreaded pacers of his era, has been actively involved in cancer awareness programmes after losing his wife Jane to the disease back in 2008.

He has been following the ongoing series and much like the rest of Australia, he too is bowled over by the Gujarat slinger’s amazing skill-set.

“Terrific young guy who has found a way to adapt. Absolutely incredible how he powers into bowl the last few steps,” McGrath said of Bumrah’s short run-up.

The man with 563 Test wickets also found eerie similarities between him and the Indian in terms of hyper-extension of their arms (when the elbow joint bends backward beyond its normal range).

He said it allows them to land the ball a few inches further.

“Got a little bit of hyper extension which I used to have as well. He is coping with it, he has incredible control both ways, guess they are managing him well. I am a massive fan of Jasprit,” said the lanky former bowler, who was nicknamed ‘Pigeon’ by his teammates for his thin legs.

Having worked at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai, McGrath is impressed with the talent pool in India and said one of his wards, Prasidh Krishna, has a bright future.

“India, with 1.4 billion people, have absolute passion for the game of cricket. Working with MRF Pace Foundation for the last 12 years, we have Prasidh Krishna, who is in the squad.

“He is a good young bowler and I think, they will have a good career ahead of him. There’s no shortage of players and [it is] not just the bowlers but also batters like Yashasvi Jaiswal.

“What’s good about these young players is they are fearless. We have got Sam Konstas who is similar.”

McGrath was also glad to see that Test cricket is well and truly alive given that record crowds showed up to watch the fourth Test in Melbourne.

“The cricket that was played in Melbourne was amazing and it lasted all five days with Australia getting over the line in the final session and 370,000 fans turning up has been absolutely incredible, because Test cricket is still the ultimate.

“We need to look after [it] but the Boxing Day Test tells me that Test cricket is alive and hopefully, we will see something similar over here,” he said.

He is also confident that Mitchell Starc will be fit and available for the final Test here. But will Australia risk him? “It also depends on the state of the Test series and it is a massive game. Australia haven’t beaten India in the last two [Border-Gavaskar] series and that is unheard of.”

“This is a massive Test. Guess it will be upto Mitch and he will do anything possible to play the match.”

The last few months have been quite tough for Virat Kohli. After a string of poor performances, Kohli decided to hang his boots in the shortest format. However, runs haven’t been flowing from his bat effortlessly in the longer formats too. The top-order batter really struggled against New Zealand in the 3-match series that India lost 0-3. His struggles have been quite visible in the net sessions and practice games as well, ahead of the start of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Perth.

Amid the chatter around his form, Australia legend Glenn McGrath feels a couple of low scores on the Australia tour could see Virat sink even lower in terms of form.

“If they go hard at him, if he gets in the fight with emotions, there’s a bit of chat out there, who knows he might sort of lift,” McGrath told CODE Sports’ Daniel Cherny.

“But I think he’s probably under pressure a little bit, and if he has a couple of low scores to start with, he could really feel it.

“I think he’s quite an emotional player. When he’s up, he’s up, and when he’s down, he sort of struggles a little bit.”

Team India is undoubtedly under pressure after the 0-3 hammering received in the home Test assignment against New Zealand. McGrath expects Australia to put India under pressure right from the first ball and test their nerves to come out of the rut they are presently in.

“Without a doubt, especially after coming off a 3-0 loss against New Zealand, you’ve got plenty of ammunition to back yourself up,” McGrath asserted

“So put the pressure on them and see if they’re up for it.”

Even India’s practice sessions haven’t gone as planned in Australia, with top batters like Kohli, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, etc struggling to put runs on the board.

Australia spinner Adam Zampa overtook former pacer Nathan Bracken to become Australia’s eighth-highest wicket-taker in ODIs on Saturday. Zampa made this upward movement in the charts during the fourth ODI against England at Lord’s. In the match, Zampa was somewhat the only positive for Australian bowling, taking two wickets for 66 runs in eight overs at an ecomomy rate of 8.25. He got crucial wickets of half-centurions Ben Duckett and Harry Brook.

Now, in 102 ODIs since his debut in 2016, Zampa has taken 175 wickets at an average of 27.99, with best figures of 5/35. He has 11 four-wicket hauls and a five-wicket haul in ODIs.

On the other hand, Bracken, a prominent Aussie pacer from 2001-09, once ranked number one in 50-over format, took 174 wickets in 116 ODIs at an average of 24.36, with best figures of 5/47. He took five 4-wicket hauls and two five-wicket hauls in ODIs.

Pace legends Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee (380 wickets each) are joint-highest wicket-takers in ODIs for Aussies.

Coming to the match, Australia won the toss and opted to field first.

England started off with a fine 48-run opening stand between Phil Salt (22 in 27 balls, with three fours) and Ben Duckett. After a brief stumble, skipper Harry Brook recorded a 79-run partnership with Duckett (63 in 62 balls, with six fours and a six) and a 75-run partnership with Jamie Smith (39 in 28 balls, with a four and two sixes). Brook missed out on a well-deserved second-successive ODI ton, scoring 87 in 58 balls, with 11 fours and a six.

Liam Livingstone (62* in 27 balls, with three fours and seven sixes) provided some brilliant finishing touches, smashing Mitchell Starc for 28 runs as England scored 312/5 in their 39 overs.

Adam Zampa (2/66) was the pick of the bowlers. Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, and Josh Hazlewood got a wicket each.

In the run-chase, openers Travis Head (34 in 23 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) and skipper Marsh (28 in 34 balls, with two fours and a six) provided a fine start with a 68-run stand. However, after their partnership was broken, it was all downhill for Australia, who was skittled out for 126 in 24.4 overs, thanks to brilliant spells from Matthew Potts (4/38) and Brydon Carse (3/36). England levelled the five-match series 2-2 with a 186-run win.

Brook secured the ‘Player of the Match’ award.