Former Pakistani pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar cites his own example and reckons Jasprit Bumrah’s workload must be managed properly. Bumrah has been prone to injuries and needs to be rested now and then, according to Akhtar.
When Bumrah entered the cricketing scene, his action was termed to be rough. Over the years, fans got used to it but it might have a long-term effect. He sustained injuries to his back in 2019, post which Bumrah hasn’t been the same bowler. Although he had a great IPL 2020 in UAE, the right-arm quick has lost his incisive abilities at the international level.
Talking about the same, ‘Rawalpindi Express’ Shoaib Akhtar compared the bowling styles of his and Jasprit Bumrah’s.
“His bowling is based on frontal action. Players with that action bowl with their backs and shoulder speed. We used to be side-on and there is compensation in that. Front action, however, has no compensation and with that style, when the back blows out, you can’t escape it irrespective of how much you try,” Akhtar revealed on Sports Tak.
“Play Bumrah in three out of five matches and take him out” – Shoaib Akhtar
The Pakistani quick, Shoaib Akhtar, holds the record for the fastest delivery ever recorded. He was consistently quick, but it had a toll on his body. He revealed interactions with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over the same issue.
“I kept telling PCB, ‘do not make me play all five matches. I am a three ODI fast bowler and my knees won’t allow it’. Whenever I played five matches, my knees would get filled with water and my movement went away. I got tired of asking them to use me in three matches out of five,” he mentioned.
Akhtar feels the same could happen to Bumrah unless he’s well-taken care of. He had a piece of advice for the Indian team, stating examples of former legendary bowlers.
“I saw [Ian] Bishop’s back blowing out, Shane Bond’s back blowing out, and both had frontal actions. Therefore, Bumrah needs to manage. If you play him every match, in one year, he will completely break down. Play him three matches out of five and take him out. Bumrah will have to manage this one thing if he wants to last forever,” Akhtar concluded.
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