Australia batter Steve Smith has lauded pacer Jasprit Bumrah and his “unorthodox bowling action” and “exceptional skill-set.”
Bumrah bagged eight wickets in the Perth Test match, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings, and helped his side to a 295-run victory. India’s stand-in skipper for the first Test was also adjudged player of the match for his performance.
“From the start of his run-up, it’s just all awkward,” Smith told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“The way he runs in is different to pretty much anyone else, then the last bit of his action is different. I’ve faced him a reasonable amount now, and each time you face him it takes a few balls just to get the rhythm of it in a way.”
Former Australia captain Smith explained how Bumrah’s release point is at least a foot closer to the batters than any other bowler making it that much difficult to pick the length.
“He releases the ball closer to you than any other bowler, just the way he does it. So maybe it rushes you a bit more than you think, and it’s just an awkward action,” said Smith, who was trapped by Bumrah for a duck in the first innings.
“Put that together with his skill set—he swings it both ways, he can nip it off the seam, he can reverse it, got a good slower ball, a good bouncer—he’s pretty much the complete package as a bowler.”
India will next face Australia in the Pink-ball Test in Adelaide starting December 6.
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