Legendary pacer Shoaib Akhtar suggested Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah to prioritise shorter formats over Test cricket amid the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Reflecting on the pacer’s performance in the home-series against New Zealand, Akhtar shared his thoughts during a conversation on The Nakash Khan Show podcast.
"You know, in Test cricket, you have to bowl longer spells. The batters don't try to attack you, so length becomes irrelevant. You struggle if the ball doesn't seam then. When you start struggling, the team will start questioning. I think he is a good enough fast bowler to take wickets in Test cricket."
"Although he didn't do much in the Test series against New Zealand, it happens. But if he wants to continue playing Test cricket, he has to increase pace. With injection of increasing pace, he has a high risk of getting injured. If I was Jasprit Bumrah, I'd stick to shorter formats. It only depends on how I feel,” he added.
The 31-year-old delivered a commendable performance in the first Test against Australia, leading his team to a 295-run victory as stand-in captain.
Continuing with his conversation, the 49-year-old ex-cricketer highlighted Bumrah’s performance in the shorter formats.
"He is a very good fast bowler for the shorter formats. He understands line and length. His accuracy is brilliant. I think he does a great job in death overs, in powerplay and he can swing the ball both ways."
Despite his five-wicket haul in the Perth Test against Australia, Akhtar believes the right-arm fast bowler should step away from red-ball cricket.
- Jasprit Bumrah
