CHENNAI: Mumbai Indians' pace spearhead
Jasprit Bumrah
missed last season’s IPL due to a back injury but that didn’t stop him from being India’s No. 1 bowler across formats after he returned to action.
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But Aussie pace legend
Glenn McGrath
feels Bumrah needs to tread cautiously as he gets ready to shoulder the burden of leading the attack of a hugely-demanding franchise over the next two months.
McGrath, who is serving as the director of cricket at the MRF Pace Foundation, feels a bowler like Bumrah, who has an unconventional action, needs time away from the sport to stay injury-free.
Excerpts from a conversation...
On Bumrah’s workload...
I think someone like Bumrah needs an off-season because he puts so much effort into every delivery. You can see there is so much stress and pressure on his body. He needs a break to regain his strength. If he keeps playing non-stop, the strength in his bowling action will diminish and he’ll get injured — something that has already happened to him. He’s a very experienced player now, he knows how to manage himself. So it’s up to him. But he does need a break to put strength back on.
On how Bumrah generates pace...
If you look at his last two strides, he really powers into the crease. So his momentum increases in his last two strides. I think that’s where he gets it. I think there’s a little bit of hyper-extension in his elbow. That all adds to it. But it’s the last two steps where he just powers in.
On Starc’s return to IPL after nine years...
I think he’s really suited to the short version. If the ball’s moving, he bowls such attacking lines and lengths. He’s always dangerous when he’s on song. When he’s got his radar switched on and swinging the ball, he’s as good as anyone going around. Earlier, he chose to skip IPL and wanted to focus on other things...It shows he is smart as well.
On ODI World Cup-winning skipper Cummins...
I was earlier sceptical about a bowler leading the team because a batter can go out and give 100 per cent in his batting and not worry about what else is happening. When a bowler is a captain and he’s bowling, he still has an eye on whose bowling next and where the game’s going. So that’s the only reason I thought it’s always better for a batter to have it. But Cummins has done an exceptional job. He has taken it to the next level, and he’s got a fighting technique when he bats.
On pacers’ challenges in T20...
Recently, the batters have nearly taken over bowlers again with their new and innovative shots. So it’s time for the bowlers to step up.
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