Former Australian pacer Damien Fleming lavished praise on Jasprit Bumrah for his exceptional skills with the ball, saying he will be the real “x-factor” for Virat Kohli when India will take on Australia in the much-awaited four-match Test series, starting with first on December 6 at Adelaide Oval.
Fleming further went on to laud Bumrah that he is a fan of his great yorkers, saying the Indian seamer will utilize it, particularly against the tail against the Kangaroos here in Australia.
As per reports in Sydney Morning Herald, Fleming quoted, “He (Bumrah) is the real X-factor - 28 wickets in six Tests. I have seen him in the IPL. He has that unorthodox action, a stuttery run-up, a weird run-up, but I think for batsmen you don’t get a real good sight of the ball, but he has got pace and bounce and has a great yorker that I think he will utilize particularly against the tail.”
The 1999 World Cup winner turned commentator further added, “That’s the factor they probably haven’t had before - a pace battery that could unsettle tails. Just with that weird action, I have noticed he can swing the ball away from right-handers now. He has actually upskilled himself as well.”
Meanwhile, Fleming was all praise for Bhuvneshwar Kumar and even went on to compare him with James Anderson, saying the duo is the best swing bowlers in the world at the moment.
He said, “I love watching Bhuvi Kumar because, probably with James Anderson, they are the best swing bowlers in the world. He actually has the skills where he can bowl outswingers and inswingers to right and left-handed batsmen. When he (Bhuvi) first started, he lacked a yard or two in Test cricket, but he has increased his pace a little bit in the past two years.”
Fleming, who took a hat-trick on his Test debut, was also impressed with Indian pace attack, saying they have now got the best in the history of Indian cricket, though, Australia also has great bowling attack and upcoming Test series will be a shootout between two good pace attacks.
Fleming signed off by saying, “That’s as impressive a pace attack that I have ever seen India bring out to Australia. They are actually quite experienced now, too. They will have two unlucky quicks. It’s a real luxury. That’s good for them. Our pace attack is great, too, so it’s going to be a shootout between two good pace attacks. It’s going to get down to those batsmen, isn’t it?”
(With Sydney Morning Herald Inputs)
