Former Australian legendary pacer Glenn McGrath has opened up on the constant fitness concerns of the Indian ace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. While the star pacer has been selected in the squad for the two-Test series in Sri Lanka, he is yet to clear his fitness test at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence.
It’s important to note that Bumrah suffered a knee injury during the three-match ODI series against England while fielding in the second ODI in Cardiff. As he continues his recovery at the CoE, McGrath has requested Bumrah to manage his workload wisely to enjoy a long career.
“Well again it’s up to him what he wants. How old’s Bumrah now? 31-32? He’s only a spring chicken. So he’s got to find a way to have a bit of longevity. He’s had a few injuries unfortunately, but he’s class, a quality bowler. Just see what he wants to do. That’s what it comes down to: whether he wants to focus on Test cricket or whether he just wants to play T20. It also depends on his body. And like I said, guys who hyper-extend their arm do place a bit more stress through that joint there. So we’ll see what the future holds,” McGrath said.
Moreover, the former speedster also shared that the modern-day pacers should focus on becoming physically stronger to cope with the demands rather than being wrapped in excessive protection.
“It’s the nature of the beast being a fast bowler; it’s not a natural action, so injuries are part of the game. Where I’m a little disappointed these days, and it’s probably been that way a little bit for a long time, is that they put them (fast bowlers) in cotton wool. We try to nurse them back to full fitness, and we protect them. The best way to do it is to get stronger than the stresses of fast bowling. To do a rehab program for months and months puts your fitness and your strength so far behind that you’ve got so far to catch up,” he concluded.
Stay updated with the latest cricket news, match insights, and exclusive updates at Sky365 and download the Sky365 App to start betting today!
