Pakistan legend Wasim Akram has laid down the gauntlet to Jasprit Bumrah, suggesting the Indian pacer should skip April’s Indian Premier League and instead play a month’s county cricket in England to become a better bowler.
The Men in Blue will take on the Three Lions over five Tests in England this coming summer, with Akram believing a stint with the Duke ball in seaming and cold conditions in April would benefit the 24-year-old tenfold.
Akram, who claimed 414 Test wicket scalps in 104 matches for his country and is widely considered one of the greatest exponents of swing bowling, kept a close eye on Indian quicks, particularly during the 2-1 Test series defeat to the Proteas.
The 51-year-old highlighted Bumrah, specifically, as a man who could benefit from more fast bowling experience away from India if he has the desire to add plenty more Test caps to the three he has already.
“If Bumrah plays at least a month of county every year, trust me, he will be a better bowler. But then Indian board has to tell Bumrah to forego a month’s IPL and play county cricket,” Akram, who was speaking to PTI on the sidelines of the Ice Cricket match played at St. Moritz in Switzerland, said.
While the riches of Bumrah’s IPL deal with the Mumbai Indians would be difficult to give up, Akram believes fast bowlers, especially, need to look at the bigger picture in order to improve.
Indeed, the former Pakistan star agreed with the recent assessment made by West Indies pace great Michael Holding that Bumrah’s hit the deck hard policy would not work on pitches in England.
He said: “I agree with Mike that you can’t hit the deck on English surfaces but that would only come with experience. Look, the BCCI doesn’t allow the India’s main stars to play county cricket.
“If Bumrah can learn how to straighten the ball after pitching coming from wide off the crease, more often than not, it will be his wicket-taking delivery. He just needs to use a bit of wrists for that.”
Meanwhile, Akram has been impressed with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, a stalwart for India in all forms, after the 28-year-old claimed 10 wickets in two Tests against South Africa at an average of 20.30.
He said: “Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been the most impressive pacer in South Africa, in Test and ODIs, as far as my assessment goes. He was getting the ball to swing both ways. He has increased pace now and has become all the more effective,”
India are slated to play five Tests, three ODIs and as many T20Is in their long tour of England starting this July.
