Last Updated on 5 minutes ago by Charbel Coorey
Glenn McGrath says building strength is key for Jasprit Bumrah to avoid further injury. The great Australian pace bowler is currently in India at the MRF Pace Foundation, where he mentors young Indian fast bowlers to get them ready for top-level cricket.
In an interview with Bharath Ramaraj for RevSportz, McGrath spoke about Bumrah’s situation and the challenge to work on his body given how busy the cricketing calendar is. After missing a lot of action in recent years due to a back injury, Bumrah will now miss India’s Test series in Sri Lanka due to a knee issue.
Glenn McGrath on Jasprit Bumrah: His action puts a lot of stress on his body
McGrath said that Bumrah’s unique action and ability to generate pace makes him difficult to deal with. It has culminated in 234 wickets in 52 Tests so far at a remarkable average of 19.79.
“He has a very unique run-up and bowling action. He is easily one of the best fast bowlers in the world. The way he goes about it is absolutely brilliant,” McGrath said.
“You may not teach that to other young bowlers because it is so unique to him. He has a short run-up, builds up to the crease, and those last two steps really power into and through the crease. He has a little bit of hyperextension and a great wrist. That is how he generates extra pace.”
McGrath said Bumrah must prioritise strength as he produces so much impact at the crease off a short run up. But the lack of gaps in the calendar makes that a different proposition.
“But that action does put a lot of stress on your body. He has to work harder to get that strength level up,” McGrath said.
“But the problem is there is not much of a break, not much of an off-season. Those are the challenges faced by any pace bowler. That is one thing we focus on at the MRF Pace Foundation.
“One of the main things we work on here is strength. To be a fast bowler, you need to be strong enough to cope with the stresses of bowling fast. As you complete your season, your strength levels drop off a bit. When they fall below the stresses of fast bowling, that is when injuries become an issue.
“We build the boys’ strength so that they can maintain it throughout the season. The issue for Bumrah, other Indian bowlers and fast bowlers around the world is that the season continues. A lot of cricket is played all year round. There is no off-season to rebuild your strength.”
India are hoping that Jasprit Bumrah will be fit for huge assignments in the next 12-15 months, including an away tour of New Zealand, home Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, and 2027 ODI World Cup in southern Africa.
