Hazlewood also equated the India-Australia and the Ashes rivalry.
After an entertaining lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 in the UAE, all focus has now shifted to the much-awaited high-profile Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21 and Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood said India pacer Jasprit Bumrah would be the player to watch out for.
The world cricket is yet again set to watch another Test thriller in Australia when India and the hosts will lock horns in a four-match Test series from 17th of December in Adelaide after three T20 Internationals and as many as One Day Internationals starting on 27th of November.
Last time, the Indian cricket team led by Virat Kohli had a memorable trip, winning the historic Test series 2-1 on the Australian soil – where Bumrah was one of the key architects of that triumph.
Bumrah scalped 21 wickets and was the joint-highest wicket-taker along with spinner Nathon Lyon in the last Test series and this time, the yorker specialist would be more lethal on the back of his splendid performance in IPL 2020, where he took 27 wickets for Mumbai Indians.
Well, Bumrah is a wicket-taking bowler for India and the expectations from the pacer are even higher this time around and Hazlewood said Australia must try to tire him out in the first couple of games during the four-match Test series.
As per reports in India Today, Hazlewood said: “Bumrah is probably the standout. He is unique with his action. He maintains pace very well throughout the day and the whole series. He is probably the key. He can take wickets up front or with the old ball. I guess it’s about getting a lot of overs into him, try to tire him out in the first couple of games. That will be the key.”
The Australian speedster also said the Indian bowling attack has improved drastically over the years and his team’s batters will have to be on their toes to counter the attack.
He further added, “They out-bowled us the last time they came. That went a long way for them in winning the series. They have most bases covered with their quicks. If Ishant Sharma gets here at some point it will add to their strength. They are all a little bit different. For the last 10-15 years, Indian pacers have kept improving. Our batters will have to be on their toes to counter that.”
Hazlewood also claimed that the rivalry between Australia and India is equal to the Ashes rivalry in the five-day format of the game.
He signed off by saying, “Australia-India rivalry is up there with the Ashes. India has probably added to it, the last time when they came here and won. That was some tight series. We don’t lose too many series in Australia. That certainly hurt at the time. We know the guys who were at that time. I will remember that. It gives motivation this time around.”