‘If I was him, I would have …’: Shoaib Akhtar’s bold advice to Jasprit Bumrah | Cricket News – Times of India
NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan tearaway pacer Shoaib Akhtar has given bold advice to Jasprit Bumrah, urging the Indian fast bowler to focus on shorter formats of the game.
Akhtar, reflecting on Bumrah’s injury history and the demands of Test cricket, believes that concentrating on these formats would help Bumrah manage his fitness better and extend his career.
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Akhtar’s comments come in light of the intense physical strain Test cricket places on fast bowlers, especially someone as crucial as Bumrah for India’s success.
“Very good fast bowler for shorter formats and one-dayers, because he understands the length. I think he does a great job in death overs, in powerplay and he can swing the ball both ways,” Akhtar said while speaking on the Nakash Khan podcast.
“But you know, in Test cricket, you have to bowl longer spells. You need pace because the batters aren’t trying to hit you,” said Akhtar. “Length becomes irrelevant. You struggle if the ball doesn’t seam or reverse along with that lack of pace. When you start struggling, then people start questioning,” Akhtar added.
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Akhtar acknowledged that Bumrah, with 185 wickets in 42 Tests, has the potential to be a top-quality seamer. However, he also highlighted that Bumrah’s recurring fitness issues might hinder him from sustaining a long career in Test cricket.
“I think he is good enough to take wickets in Test cricket. Although he didn’t do much in the Test series against New Zealand, it happens,” said Akhtar. “But if he wants to continue playing Test cricket, he has to increase the pace. With the injection of increasing pace, he has a high risk of getting injured. If I was him, I would have stuck to shorter formats.”
Akhtar also voiced concerns about Bumrah’s long-term prospects in the longer format especially when he wants to play in the IPL and ODIs too.
“It only depends on how I feel. If I’m feeling good, okay, I’ll go out there, I’ll bend my back, make sure I take wickets for the team in Test matches. That is fine with me but he has to look after himself, because he wants to play the IPL, he wants to play ODIs, he wants to play Test matches as well,” said Akhtar.
