Jasprit Bumrah is one bowler who has regularly caused problems for the Australian batsmen. Despite India’s defeat in the Adelaide second Test, the Indian pacer looked excellent, taking four wickets. With eight wickets in both innings combined, the right-arm bowler was also the key to India’s victory in Perth.
He had caused problems, especially, for Nathan McSweeney and Usman Khawaja, the Australian openers. The youthful McSweeney, who made his debut with the Perth Test and will play his only third Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT 2024–25), has shown confidence in handling the Bumrah issue. He also acknowledged that it was the hardest task he has ever faced to play against the top Indian pacer at such a young age.
“I take some confidence from surviving a spell in Adelaide, and it won’t get much harder than that to get a bowler like Jasprit early in my career. “I’ll feel more at ease against him the more I face him,” McSweeney stated, as reported.
“I’ve never faced him before; he’s a very unusual bowler. Clearly a world-class player, he’s a little different from most bowlers I’ve encountered. Adjusting to his angle and where he delivers on the crease is the key. To try to carry that on the chin and have faith that what I’ve been doing would be sufficient, he continued, “I got two pretty good balls from him [in Perth].”
His bowling prowess won me back in Adelaide: Nathan McSweeney
Notably, when he picked up Usman Khawaja in Adelaide, Jasprit Bumrah was also singing. After reaching about thirty runs, McSweeney appeared to be in form, but the India vice-captain had other ideas and gave the young player a nick one to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.
He’s a fantastic bowler, and I’m loving the challenge of trying to figure out a strategy while rushing against a top player. “He got me again in Adelaide.” The more I fight him, the better I’ll get, and hopefully I’ll be able to land a few more blows here at the Gabba,” McSweeney said.
India
