Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami were the two Indian pacemakers that exposed a volatile Australian team in the 2018-19 Down Under series. The duo would hope to replicate their performance in the upcoming four-game test series against Australia that begins on December 17 in Adelaide.
There are several factors that differentiate the current test series and the last play between India and Australia. Firstly a pink ball will be played and secondly Ishant Sharma will not be there to support Bumrah and Shami with their swings. But the most important thing is that Australia has people like Steve Smith, David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne, who were not part of the Australian team last time.
However, former Indian starter Aakash Chopra feels that the current Indian bowling attack is lethal enough to disrupt the Australian higher order.
Responding to a fan’s question about Indian bowling, Chopra said: “There is Bumrah and Shami and any third play of rhythm will also be good, be it Navdeep Saini, Umesh Yadav or Mohammed Siraj.”
“As they say, fast bowlers, they hunt in pairs. So, your pair is ready. There is no tension there, until the moment Bumrah and Shami are there, I feel like we will have the ability to move to the top, ”he added.
The Australians are currently in for the initial conundrum since David Warner ruled out the pink ball test for a groin injury. Chopra opined that the absence of his usual first match would make Australia appear weak to tourists.
And let’s be fair, Warner is not there and Joe Burns is also doing it 50-50. Will Pucovski also took a hit to the head and was also going 50-50. So, I feel like your higher order was getting a bit weak anyway. If you get a wicket or two with the new ball, then you can expose your average order even more, ”Chopra said.
“So I think the Indian fast bowling attack and spinner will be fine too. Our bowling attack with the new ball in the first 40-45 overs, no problem, we will take ground, “he added.