Image Credit- BCCI
Renowned Australian
pacer Glenn McGrath issued a warning in Chennai on Tuesday, saying that Jasprit
Bumrah needs a “off-season” because his “extensive effort”
in the bowling action could cause the star Indian pacer to sustain additional
ailments. After being sidelined since September 2022, Bumrah underwent surgery
in March 2023 to treat a stress fracture in his back. This prolonged his
recovery period. He also missed the IPL 2023 and the T20 World Cup in Australia
in the interim.
The right-arm
bowler, who led India in their three-match T20I tour of Ireland in August after
returning to action a bit earlier than expected, got off to a quick start and
went on to take 20 wickets in the 50-over World Cup.
McGrath stated that considering the amount of work that goes into Bumrah’s
bowling, he needs time off from the game due to his actions and workload.
“The last two
strides that he takes, he just powers into the crease. Thus, his momentum
increases, and that’s where he gets the pace,” McGrath said during an
interaction with the media here at the MRF Pace Foundation.
“Someone like Bumrah needs an off-season because he puts so much into
every ball. With so much extensive effort, he needs a break. If he keeps
playing, the amount of pressure created given the bowling action he has, he is
bound to get injured, which he has in the past,” said the fast bowling great.
McGrath said having a good stable of right-arm pacers has not forced India to
search desperately for a left-arm bowler.
“The Indian fast bowling has been set for a long time and hasn’t had a big
turnover. The way (Mohammed) Shami, Bumrah, (Mohammed) Siraj and Umesh (Yadav)
have delivered, only when they move older, we can think of having a
change,” McGrath said.
“We have Avesh
Khan and many others in the fray. We will see in the future. Having so many
good right-arm bowlers is the reason why we haven’t seen a left-arm Indian
pacer lately,” he added.