India's speedster Bhuvneshwar Kumar followed the footsteps of Australia great Glenn McGrath in his initial days of cricket. He said the consistent line and length of McGrath attracted him.
Bhuvneshwar calls McGrath his inspiration as a fast bowler and he always loved the way the Aussie made the ball talk off the pitch. "I realized that given my lean physique, I wouldn't be able to imitate the bulkier Shoaib Akhtar. Instead, I looked to Glen McGrath for inspiration. His strength and his line and length really impressed me.", he said in an exclusive online class with FrontRow.
"Till this day, I try to learn and emulate his seam position and how he makes the ball cut away from the wicket."
Bhuvneshwar had to sit out from the team because of injuries and he highlighted how much fast bowling affects the body. "Fast bowling is certainly tough because of the toll it takes on your body. However, if you are committed and dedicated, and pay attention to certain technical aspects, you can learn and improve," he said.
The 30-year-old has the first cricket memory from the 1999 World Cup. He had cried after India lost to New Zealand and that made him realize his passion for cricket.
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"My first cricket memory is of watching India's 1999 World Cup game against New Zealand. I remember I was watching the game at home with my sister and I cried a lot when we lost. I will never forget that moment because that was when I realized how passionate I was about this game."
Bhuvneshwar's cricket journey started with gully cricket but his potential as a fast bowler was discovered by the coach in the cricket academy.
"In gully cricket, everybody thinks of themselves as an all-rounder. When I went to the academy for the first time with my sister, and the coach asked me what I did, I said everything. He saw something in me that made him hand me the ball, and since then I have never looked back," he said.
Bhuvneshwar has put a fast bowling course in the FrontRow learning app. He talked about the course and said it will help the budding cricketers. "I have put this course together keeping everybody in mind, whether you are just a fan who wants to begin playing or you already play but want to refine your game and get insights into the mind of a professional cricketer."
"However, I strongly advise all budding cricketers to keep practicing. Coaches can share their teachings with you, but there is no short cut to the hard work you must put in," he added.
(With ANI Inputs)
