‘Cummins is tactically good, setting good fields; Bumrah has many more wicket-taking deliveries and can just come and knock your stumps’ – Shaun Tait

Excerpts:

Where do you put Jasprit Bumrah and Pat Cummins among the list of great fast bowlers of all time?

Shaun Tait: Pat Cummins has got to be arguably the best cricketer in the world, even with a bat. If you talk about his captaincy as well, he’s a very successful captain of Australia. He’s the number one bowler and he can make runs as well. So from a leadership point of view, he’s maybe the most valuable cricketer on the earth. You look at someone like a Ben Stokes, all-rounder captain, same sort of thing. So it’s a really good package.

And Bumrah in all three formats is the best fast bowler in the world. I like Rabada as well. I think Rabada’s up there. But Bumrah’s ahead of the other guys because of his white ball cricket. He’s a great death bowler. And then obviously a great Test match bowler. So as a full package of a fast bowler, Bumrah’s probably your number one. Whereas Pat Cummins is an all-round cricket package, he’s probably the number one.

What makes them both world-class bowlers?

Shaun Tait: So many things physically for a start, they’re both tall, lean, strong, athletic men that helps a lot. And really fit. If you have a base to start with like that, and then obviously you add the rest of the stuff in their skills. But a big one is longevity and the ability to keep playing. We’ve had lots of fast bowlers in the past who had all the skills and the talent, but the ability to keep playing Test cricket at the top level is massive.

After Cummins’ early career-threatening injury how difficult would it have been to trust the body again?

Shaun Tait: Pat had an injury when he was really young. He’s come back really well. He’s changed his game a little bit. Not going for high extreme pace all the time, but he’s so good at bowling in great areas for a long period of time. That’s Pat’s major strength. He’s relentless in his good areas. He’s always asking questions every single delivery and in a challenging area for the batsman.

What are Bumrah’s special skills?

Shaun Tait: Bumrah has the ability to swing, seam, and some variations. The way his action is, his wrist can move the ball a little bit more than a lot of bowlers. He can shape the ball at times, and both ways. And on the right wicket, he can get some seam movement. So, he’s a very skilful bowler with a really good bouncer.

What do batsmen find the most difficult when facing the two?

Shaun Tait: Bumrah’s ability is to bowl a different delivery. Cummins will probably be more difficult as the day goes on. It’s just constantly difficult. He doesn’t give you many scoring options.
Against Bumrah, when you first come in, he might bowl it at your head. Or at your foot. He might bowl in a good area and nick you off. So, have to give that one to Bumrah.

Which of Bumrah’s and Cummins’ deliveries trouble the batters even after getting in?

Shaun Tait: With Cummins, it’s just his relentless areas. He’ll just keep coming at you all day long. His first spell is the same as his last spell of the day. He’s very fit. So, there’s no let-up, no let-off with Cummins. And he can just get that little bit of movement off the wicket. Obviously, as a tall man, he gets good bounce anyway. He’s just very consistent all the time.

Whereas Bumrah can bowl that delivery that just… He can bowl that in-swinging yorker, for example. That can just knock your stumps over. He can bowl that really good bouncer that just gets some glove on to the keeper or leg slip. So, he’s always got a wicket-taking delivery in his arsenal. I think Pat Cummins, he certainly relies on his consistency. And his ability to bowl long spells for a long period of time. Bumrah can also do that. But Bumrah’s got those wicket-taking deliveries. He always wants to take a wicket.

So Bumrah looks for wickets all the time and Cummins is more process-oriented?

Shaun Tait: Yes. But if you’re going to find a difference between them, maybe Cummins is very good tactically. He sets very good fields. And just sticks to the plan.

Bumrah can come on any time and just take a wicket. He can knock your stumps over. He can hit your gloves. Yeah, he’s got more of an aggressive style of bowling.

We have seen Bumrah slip in yorkers and slower ones when partnerships are building. What is that go-to delivery for Cummins?

Shaun Tait: It’s just very subtle changes for Cummins. Sometimes you will see him go cross seam, a spell of those. And he will move the seam. More so cutters and stuff like that if the surface is giving him something. And you do see the ball deck off a wicket into the stumps. He gets quite a few wickets like that as well where the ball moves from just out of off stump into the stump. So he does have the ability to just have subtle changes with the seam. And he changes his angles of the crease sometimes.

You were referring to a change in the angle of the crease. What do you mean by that?

Shaun Tait: Yeah, he does that. He goes around the wicket, over the wicket. But I just think wide of the crease or a bit closer to the stumps at times. There’s just subtle changes I’ve noticed where he does use the crease a little bit. He will go a little bit wider and angle the ball into the stumps. And then sometimes he goes a little bit closer and takes the ball away . But very, very small changes with Pat. It’s not easy to notice.

In Australia, reverse swing plays a big part. So, who do you think has better skill sets to reverse the ball? And what are the specific skills they can use?

Shaun Tait: I would say I can’t really separate them from that. Bumrah has probably got that good yorker. He can bowl a reverse swinging yorker. That is a deadly ball. And I think Cummins will be more patient. Get a little bit of movement in a good area and he can probably turn the ball the other way. And reverse swing the ball away from the bat as well. And get an edge. Whereas Bumrah, again, he can also do that. But I think Bumrah will attack the pads and attack the stumps a little bit more.

Your prediction on who will be taking more wickets in the upcoming BGT out of two?

Shaun Tait: They’re both going to be right up there, Maybe India could be more reliant on Bumrah if that makes sense. Whereas Australia still have the big experience of Hazlewood and Starc and these other guys. As far as a team relying on one person goes, I think Bumrah probably has the most weight on his shoulders.