An alarming bell rang for India’s former bowling coach Bharat Arun Indian cricket team about the upcoming important tour to Australia for Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 later this year.
He expressed concern about India’s bowling attack for the tour of Australia. Arun emphasizes the need for the Indian team to identify and develop reserve fast bowlers ahead of the much-anticipated tour. Australia in November.
He suggested keeping a close eye on the players over the next few months, using both domestic and IPL performances to find suitable backup bowlers and fourth pace bowling options for India’s tour of Australia.
Bharat Arun warns of lack of bowling for India’s Test tour to Australia
There is an important window to assess and prepare additional pace options to provide a strong bowling attack for the five matches before the two-match Test series against Bangladesh on September 19 and a couple of T20Is before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Test series in Australia.
The former Indian bowling coach feels Rohit Sharma and his team need to worry about their pace attack as they have only three proven options in Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami to rely on in the dangerous Australian conditions.
However, the core of India’s fast bowling attack is strong and dangerous in Bumrah, Siraj and Shami, but if injuries strike, they may struggle to find a reliable fourth fast bowler, as Arun recalled and warned on his last tour of Australia three years ago. team.
During this series, the Indian team faced a number of injuries, with key players like Shami, Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin, Hanuma Vihari and Umesh Yadav ruled out. This situation forced India to rely on less experienced bowlers like Navdeep Saini and T. Natarajan.
India need to find a fourth pace bowling option
Well, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav are no longer in the mix and while bowlers like Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep have made their Test debuts, their effectiveness on Australian pitches remains uncertain.
Shardul Thakur, who was instrumental in India’s recent historic Test series win in Australia with his all-round skills, is also currently out of action. With Bumrah rested, with Siraj out of his first Duleep Trophy matches due to illness and Shami still nursing an ankle injury, India face a precarious situation.
If any of the key fast bowlers are not available, the Test squad may continue to look for replacements and hence Arun wants the team management to identify and start preparing the bowlers for the Australian tour.
Arun reveals how Siraj and Shami have become dangerous pacers
Bharat Arun was quoted as saying by “The Indian Express” newspaper:It’s about identifying the right ones and giving them the opportunities to prepare for their trip to Australia. There are many bowlers in IPL who reach 140-150 kmph. So it’s about nurturing and giving them the right way. Must be the first time. Red ball cricket is something these bowlers have to get used to. We have time, but we have to prepare by giving them enough.”
However, Arun has not shown any special bowlers but Umran Malik and Mayank Yadav often run at around 150 kmph. In addition, Harshit Rana manages to deliver mid-140s consistently.
The former bowling coach feels that these bowlers should try their hand at first-class cricket. Arun also named Siraj as one of the most dangerous bowlers in the world in reverse terms.
He signed off saying: “Bowling in first-class cricket, you bowl on pitches that don’t respond. You have to come out with a little trick or you have to learn how to turn the ball over due to the conditions in our country. I think it helped Siraj and Shami a lot. “So when the conditions are right and the ball reverses, Siraj is probably one of the most dangerous bowlers in world cricket.”
