Let Jasprit Bumrah miss certain gamed and tours: Ian Bishop’s advise to protect fast-bowler
India vs Australia: India pacer Jasprit Bumrah needs to be given breaks from certain games and series, legendary West Indies player Ian Bishop has said.
Jasprit Bumrah needs to be given breaks. (PTI Photo)
By India Today Sports Desk: India pacer Jasprit Bumrah needs to have his workload managed better, feels former West Indies cricketer Ian Bishop. While speaking about Bumrah’s struggle with injuries, Bishop said that Bumrah should be allowed to miss certain matches and tours to keep him sharp.
Bumrah has not featured for India since late September, 2022 after sustaining a back injury. The player did not play the T20 World Cup and reports in the Indian media suggest that he might be missing the Indian Premier League as well.
Bishop, who played 43 Tests and 84 ODI matches for West Indies said that it is best to manage Bumrah’s workload carefully since he is an important asset for the country.
“Jasprit Bumrah has got an extra sharpness about his bowling when he is at his best, and you want to procure that. He is a match-winner and a difference-maker. Part of India’s success will largely depend on if he is fit or not. So you have to allow him to miss certain games and tours in order to have longevity,” Bishop told Vimal Kumar in an interview.
Fast bowler’s workload has been a point of contention in the current ICC era where many have complained about the scheduling of the tournaments. Bishop said that Bumrah should look towards Starc, who takes prolonged offs from franchise cricket to keep his body fit.
“No bowler can play all the formats continuously. I have two formats and I struggled with my back. Sadly for fans, you have to pick and choose what are the important contests for each player. You’ve got Jasprit Bumrah, Jofra Archer and Mitchell Starc,” Bishop said.
“Starc is probably a good example, he takes time off and takes tournaments off. He is given rest so that he maintains his speed. These bowlers if they don’t have that cutting-edge speed that they had at their prime spells, they just become another of the bowlers of the trend,” the former player further explained.
