ENG vs IND 2018: I Would Still Not Have Jasprit Bumrah as my Opening Bowler – Michael Holding
Jan 9, 2019 at 3:44 PM
Windies legend Michael Holding recently admitted that Jasprit Bumrah is not a new ball bowler following his five-wicket haul against England at Trent Bridge.
Meanwhile, Holding was in the headlines for criticising India all-rounder Hardik Pandya. However, Pandya gave it back with a fifer and a fifty at Trent Bridge as India won the match by 2013 runs. Jasprit Bumrah made an excellent return with a five-wicket haul in the second essay to hand India a win.
Michael Holding, however, is not backing off from what he had to say on Bumrah. In a chat with TOI, Holding says Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma are still the new ball bowlers for India.
“I would still not have him (Bumrah) as my opening bowler. Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami do a bit more with the brand new ball and they will remain my opening bowlers in Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s absence,” says Holding.
Having said that, in no way does Michael Holding regard Jasprit Bumrah as a bowler who doesn’t belong at the top level. But, if he would have been the skipper, Holding would not use him as the new ball bowler.
“What I have seen is he can get the ball to straighten from wide of the crease and is more effective with the slightly older ball,” he added.
Jasprit Bumrah hasn’t tried his hand in outswing: Michael Holding
Holding doesn’t agree that Bumrah has tried his hand at developing an outswinger since he made his debut in South Africa in January.
“What you have to remember is that in England, with so much assistance from both pitch and atmosphere for the quick bowlers, Bumrah will get the odd ball to straighten on the right-handers’ off-stump, although his action doesn’t enhance his ability to do so. The same delivery in South Africa, Australia, etc would not straighten as it can tend to do in England. He has pace, though, which is a welcome asset that cannot be bought,” Michael Holding concluded.