Credit for Jasprit Bumrah’s success goes to himself, says John Wright
Former Indian cricket coach John Wright has stated that the credit for Jasprit Bumrah’s success in Test cricket goes to none other than the player himself although he was instrumental in his initiation. Bumrah has an uncanny slingy bowling action which makes him a really difficult bowler to face.
The rise of Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah has caught the attention of many people but not many know that it was the former Mumbai Indians coach John Wright who first saw potential in a lean bowler with an uncanny action who - in Wright's own words - “bowled fast yorkers with an interesting action”.
“He was playing in a T20 match in Ahmedabad in 2013. I watched him the bowl last two or three overs of the innings. He bowled fast yorkers with an interesting action. One of his deliveries hit the footmark and flew right over the head of keeper Parthiv Patel. It went for four byes,” Wright told Mumbai Mirror.
“Sometimes it doesn’t work but in Bumrah’s case, it has. To be honest, all the credit goes to him because it’s okay being picked and identified but then it’s up to the player to learn lessons and improve. I am enjoying his success and it’s great to see him bowl well in Australia.”
Though Bumrah had made his international debut for India in the shorter format in the year 2016. It took close to two years for him to fetch his first Test match call from the national selectors. But since making is debut in the longer format in January this year he has played nine matches and picked up 47 wickets at an average of 20.8.
“It’s the player that has to make this transformation. It’s a different game and I think now he is getting closer to the stumps while bowling. The great thing about him was his action and his pace. He can do some interesting things with the ball. He is not just a one-trick bowler," the former Kiwi cricketer said.
“He has got quite a few attacking weapons up his sleeves. The thing about him is that he is a great lad and has kept his feet on the ground. I hope he keeps doing that. I also hope that he keeps doing what he does.”
Even in the ongoing match against Australia at the MCG, Bumrah has picked up eight wickets out of which he claimed six in the first innings which happens to be his best ever bowling performance in a Test innings.
“I don’t like to compare eras. We had high-class attack of Zaheer , Nehra, Agarkar and Srinath. Agarkar had a big role in our win in Adelaide. We also had L Balaji in Pakistan.”