In a recent interview with ESPNcricinfo, Australian batter Steve Smith revealed the one player he would love to have in his team. While many fans might have expected him to name Virat Kohli, Smith instead picked India’s ace fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, a choice that didn’t come as a big surprise given Bumrah’s dominance across formats.
Smith praised Bumrah for his “unique skillset,” mentioning that his different bowling action and ability to adapt to all three formats makes him one of the most valuable bowlers in the world. “He’s a complete bowler,” Smith remarked, acknowledging the threat Bumrah poses with the new ball, in the middle overs, and during crunch moments at the death.
“I think he’s got such a unique skill set, the way he goes about it, he’s so different in his action, which takes a lot of getting used to, he swings it both ways, nips it off the seam, great slower ball, great bouncer, so I think he’s kind of the complete bowler in a way, and he does it in all forms of the game, so I’d say he’d be one that I’d like on my team for sure.”
Despite Bumrah’s reputation, Smith has performed well in their encounters so far. In Test cricket, Bumrah has only managed to dismiss the Australian run machine once. This makes their rivalry more interesting as both players gear up to face each other again in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series, which begins in November.
The series will see India traveling to Australia for five Test matches, with both teams aiming to strengthen their positions in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings. Given the format of the WTC, every Test holds immense value, and the outcome of this series could have a major impact on the qualification race for the final.
Smith and Bumrah’s head-to-head battle will be one of the most anticipated duels throughout the series. Smith is known for his ability to neutralize world-class bowlers, but Bumrah’s knack for finding breakthroughs at critical moments will make this match-up a treat for cricket lovers.
As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has delivered some of the most thrilling contests in recent memory, the upcoming series promises to be no different. All eyes will be on the action starting 22nd November, as Australia and India fight not just for the iconic BGT trophy but also to improve their standing in the WTC table to qualify for the final.
