The spotlight is on the spinners as the four-match India-England Test series begins today. But in Jasprit Bumrah and Jofra Archer, both the teams have two young and exciting fast bowlers who may prove to be difference-makers. But interestingly, neither of the two has played Test cricket in India so far. Where do they stand before the face-off? How ready are they to bowl on Indian pitches?
Jasprit Bumrah
Bowling style
Bumrah generates speeds in excess of 140kmph with an unconventional high-arm action. His ability to swing the ball both ways makes him even more dangerous. His brisk pace enables him to reverse even a new ball and he extracts seam movement off the pitch as well.
X-factor
Bumrah’s natural delivery comes in to the batsman. So usually there is little chance for the batsman, especially right-handers, to escape — he has to play the ball. And that is where Bumrah strikes, because he possesses the ball that holds the line after pitching and that foxes batsmen.
Advantage in Indian conditions
Bumrah bowls with a short run-up, accelerating only in the last few steps. While that is how he generates pace, it also helps him conserve much of his energy, something that is crucial while playing in a place like Chennai with energy-sapping conditions.
Drawback
His strength is also his drawback. With a short run-up, Bumrah’s body has to exert extra force on the ball to get the desired pace and also because his tendency is to hit the deck hard. That leads to injuries. As Michael Holding said last year: “My problem with Bumrah, and I mentioned it to him when last time I saw him in England, is how long that body will hold up with that short run and the amount of effort he has to put into in his bowling, it is a human body. It is not a machine.”
WHITE-BALL CREDITS
ODIs in India: Ovs 245.4, Wkts 40, S/R 36.85, 4wkt 1
T20Is in India: Ovs 82.4, Wkts 26, S/R 19.08, 4wkt 0
IPL (In India & UAE): Ovs 348.4, Wkts 109, S/R 19.19, 4wkt 2
RED-BALL NUMBERS
Overall Tests: Ovs 631.1, Wkts 79,
S/R 47.94, 5wkt 5
Jofra Archer. File picture
Jofra Archer
Bowling style
Archer too doesn’t have a very long run-up. Yet, he bowls at a scorching pace. A smooth run and a long final stride is all that he needs to generate speed. His primary strategy, however, is to put the ball on a good line and he has good control over that. He doesn’t swing them much, but extracts movement off the seam.
X-factor
He comes with a reputation of being one of the most dangerous bowlers in world cricket currently and that is half the battle won. And more often than not, he forces the batsman to commit an error.
Advantage in Indian conditions
Despite bowling quick, Archer seems to have the fitness and the body to bowl long spells. When he plays, he often carries the biggest chunk of workload. While in Indian conditions, he might not be required to bowl long spells — the wickets are likely to remain friends of spinners — but his ability to fire in his deliveries at a fiery speed all through the day makes him an invaluable weapon in Joe Root’s armoury.
Drawback
Not just experts, even Archer believes he is more suited to white-ball cricket. Having risen to prominence with his performances for Hobart Hurricanes, Rajasthan Royals and the England ODI side, sometimes during a not-so-productive day on a deadpan of a subcontinent wicket, Archer’s focus will face a tough test. Also, the bouncer is one of Archer’s main weapons. But will it have the same bite on Indian tracks?
WHITE-BALL CREDITS
IPL (In India & UAE): Ovs 137.3, Wkts 46, S/R 17.93, 4wkt 0
RED-BALL NUMBERS
Overall Tests: Ovs 399.4, Wkts 38,
S/R 63.11, 5wkt 3
Note: Not just Tests, Archer has not even played ODIs & T20Is in India
