Brett Lee on Bumrah ” “He is world class, I think he has bowled really well” . (Reuters)
Border-Gavaskar Trophy: With a total of 21 wickets in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar trophy, Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah stands atop the leading wicket-taker in the series. With Australian pacers Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins having taken 14 wickets each in the series, the Indian fast bowler has made sure that there is a big gap between him and Aussie pacers in terms of wickets in this series. Former Australian pacer Brett Lee, who played in 76 Test matches and took 310 wickets for Australia, believes that the Indian pacer is miles ahead of any other bowler.
“He is world class, Jasprit Bumrah. Unfortunately they had no Mohammed Shami, but I think the backing of Mohammed Siraj — there has been a bit of conjecture around him — but I think he has bowled really well. From my opinion, they have an attack that has some good pace bowlers, but the reason why people say or think he is shouldering the whole load of the attack is because he is so good. He is miles ahead of any other bowler, and that is no disrespect to the other bowlers going around, but that is how good he is,” Lee told Fox Sports.
While Bumrah has taken 53 wickets in Tests in Australia with a bowling average of 17.15, his 21 wickets in the three Test matches in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy have come at an average of 10.90. In comparison, Starc has taken 14 wickets at an average of 22.85 and Cummin’s taking 14 wickets at an average of 24.00. Australia has also seen pacer Josh Hazelwood being sidelined form the series after a right calf injury during the Brisbane Test. While Scott Boland had played in the second Test after Hazelwood missed the Adelaide Pink ball Test due to a side strain. During the opening Test match at Perth, the quartet of Cummins, Starc, Hazelwood and Lyon had accomplished the feat of taking 500 wickets between them while playing together with Cummins having 130 scalps, Hazelwood and Starc having 124 scalps each and Lyon having 122 scalps out of those 500 wickets. Lee wants to see Starc, Cummins and Hazelwood in the Australian bowling attack together.
“I hate the rotation. I have never been a fan (of it). Test cricket for me, it is a test of your endurance, your courage, the whole mindset, and as a member of the public, as a broadcaster, I want to see Australia’s best XI playing Test cricket every single time. Now, if someone is carrying an injury or they need to have an extended break, that is a different story, but if he is ready to play, I want to see all three bowlers playing as much as they can,” Lee told foxsports.com.au.
With Australia naming Jhye Richardson and Sean Abott in the 15-member squad for the fourth Test at Melbourne starting December 26, Lee believes that a ‘fit Hazelwood’ walks in any Australian side. “If you look at Josh Hazlewood now, I think he is fitter in terms of physical fitness than what he was six years ago. I think his pace is better than what it was five years ago. His experience is way better because he has been around a lot longer. Any side without Hazlewood in it is a side that I don’t think is as good. Any time that Josh Hazlewood is fit, he is definitely picked in my XI. His record suggests that. He is a great team man and he is a bit like the McGrath of the team. He just hits that beautiful line and length,” said Lee.
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