IND vs AUS: We Need to Try And Tire Out Jasprit Bumrah in The First Couple of Games: Josh Hazlewood

Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood described Jasprit Bumrah as the ‘Key Player’ of the Indian side. He said that if Australia were to win the series, Bumrah would have to ‘out-play’. Hazlewood said that in the last 10-15 years, there has been a lot of change in the bowling department of India and there have been some great bowlers in the team.

“Bumrah is probably the standout. He is unique with his action. He maintains pace very well throughout the day and the whole series. He is probably the key. He can take wickets up front or with the old ball. I guess it’s about getting a lot of overs into him, try to tire him out in the first couple of games. That will be the key,” Hazlewood said.

Hazelwood, further said that over the last couple of years Indian pacers have improved drastically. The Australian pacer took 13 wickets in the last series against India.

“They out-bowled us the last time they came. That went a long way for them in winning the series. They have most bases covered with their quicks. If Ishant Sharma gets here at some point it will add to their strength.

“They are all a little bit different. For the last 10-15 years, Indian pacers have kept improving. Our batters will have to be on their toes to counter that.”

Hazlewood compared the series against India to the Ashes and said that he doesn’t like losing in Australia but he’ll take that as motivation and will do good in the upcoming clash.

“Australia-India rivalry is up there with the Ashes. India has probably added to it, the last time when they came here and won. That was some tight series.”

“We don’t lose too many series in Australia. That certainly hurt at the time. We know the guys who were at that time. I will remember that. It gives motivation this time around,” the pacer said.

The 4-match Test series between India and Australia is, to begin with, the day-night Test in Adelaide on December 17 but dark clouds are hovering over it due to the increasing Covid cases in Adelaide.

When India last visited Australia in 2018-19, they registered a historic 2–1 win in the Test series. At that time, Bumrah had proved to be an important bowler for India as he took 21 wickets.

Bumrah has also played well and impressed all the cricket fraternity in the recently concluded India Premier League. He took 27 wickets in the IPL this year and became the second-highest wicket-taker in the league after Rabada.