The left-handed opener of Australia Usman Khawaja has admitted that Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling style is unique but when one faces and plays with the bowler for a long time, it is no longer a problem. “I mean, when you face him for the first time. It’s just his action, I mean. It is a unique and weird kind of an action because the angles at which he does the releases are so different from all the other bowlers. It’s a bit higher or up. Most of the guys let the ball go from the crease or near the popping crease. (Against Bumrah) he has impressed me in that, it almost seems that he releases the ball a bit more forward from his braced front leg and extends the ball, adding Khawaja speaking to Fox Sports on Thursday.
‘Therefore it is like it comes out and then reaches there much quicker than how one anticipates it too. It is just that action that once it gets accustomed to, it is easy. I have played him many times. Not to say that he does not have the ability to get you out even on the first ball.”
“By first ball, I mean anyone can. But it is one of those things that the first time you face him it is very funny and then after a little rhythm it improves. Still though he is a class act,” he continued.
Bumrah has taken 32 wickets in seven Test matches this is his second Test-tour to Australia and both ended at 2-1 in favor of India. He is also expected to be in good form once more when the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series will commence on November 22 in Perth and subsequent matches played in Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne as well as Perth.
Khawaja, however, understands that the Indian attack does not only rely on taser Bumrah even in the absence of their match-made pacer Mohammed Shami who is returning from injury thanks to the ongoing Ranji Trophy.
“Everyone praises Jasprit, yet they have plenty of other fine bowlers as well. For example, I find Siraj to be an excellent bowler. He is equally proficient against left-handers and right-handers. Also, Shami when he played those series was a great bowler. I mean he was very much under the radar. People did not really discuss him that much.”
“Also, there are great spinners in their arsenal as well, which perfectly balances the pace attack. So for me, it’s never, I am just not looking at it from the perspective of Jasprit Bumrah. You are asking me about which box am I getting out – I am not boxing thinking that I am getting out of a particular position.”
“I am like how do I score runs off this guy. And sure all great batsmen would say this exactly because if he doesn’t hit his line and length, well, then I’m coming and if he bowls well, fair enough I will take it. So that’s how Test cricket is,” he said.