With the spotlight on Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah ahead of the second Test match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy at Adelaide starting December 6, Australian cricketer Glen Maxwell has heaped praise on the seamer for the opening Test at Perth. Bumrah took eight wickets in India’s 295-run win over Australia and Maxwell believed that the Indian pacer’s ability to take the ball away makes him ‘extremely difficult’ to face.
“It almost feels like his bouncer and his length ball are very similar where his release point is. And it’s really hard to, I suppose, pick up the difference between those. The ball always feels like it’s coming back into you. And he’s got the ability to take the ball away, which just makes it extremely difficult,” Maxwell told The Grade Cricketer podcast.
Glenn Maxwell on facing Bumrah and where he sits in the all time fast bowler ranks.
Maxi’s book “The Showman” is available online and in all good book stores. pic.twitter.com/91yQcT7UyK
— The Grade Cricketer (@gradecricketer) November 27, 2024
Bumrah took five wickets during Australia’s first innings at Perth and then returned with three more wickets in Australia’s second innings at Perth. The 30-year-old now has a total of 181 wickets at an average of 20.06 in 41 Test matches. He has also taken 149 wickets in 89 ODIs and 89 wickets in 70 T20Is and Maxwell rated the bowler as a complete package. “Bumrah is going to go down as potentially the best fast bowler of all time. Maybe not with the amount of wickets he takes in every format but for the guys that have played against him, it is just so difficult. So difficult. He’s just got such a unique action, unique ability with the ball. He seems like a complete package,” said Maxwell.
With opener Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring his fourth Test hundred in the Perth Test with a knock of 161 runs in the second innings, Maxwell counted the Mumbai youngster as the one who can re-write some of the records. “And Jaiswal doesn’t seem to have many weaknesses. Plays a short ball well, drives well, plays spin unbelievably well and can absorb pressure for periods of time. He’s a guy that’s probably to get more than 40 Test hundreds. And re-write some of the different records as well,” said Maxwell.