Australia’s legendary fast bowler, Glenn McGrath seems to be quite impressed with the quality of fast bowlers coming out of India. Indian pitches have always be in favour of the spin bowlers and in such conditions, fast bowlers like Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah giving promising performances is good to see.
According to McGrath, “To see so many fast bowlers come through (from India) is wonderful. To be a fast bowler in India is the toughest job in the world. The wickets here are conducive to spin and batting. One has to really work hard as a bowler, especially a paceman. To see (many) people bowling at 140 kph-plus, high 140s (kph) is promising.”
Many spin legends have originated from India Like Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Bishan Singh Bedi but pacers like Umesh Yadav and Bumrah have formed a seperate pace department in the team. On Jasprit Bumrah, who has worked with Mcgrath in the MRF Pace Foundation, he said, “Jasprit Bumrah, we have done a little bit of work with him, has a unique action and is a unique bowler. He has done well in the shorter versions of the game, the T20s and ODIs and bowls at the death. He is very intelligent with the way he bowls at the death. I have been impressed and he can get better. The Indian team’s bowlers are looking very good.”
McGrath also believes that Bumrah can do well in longer format of cricket. He said, “Of course, he can perform in Test matches. I think he bowls yorkers really well. He has got a good slower ball. Those things are good for the shorter version of the game. With the longer version it is just about building pressure and having good control. If you are successful in one form of the game, you can transfer that to the other. He is good enough.”