"He’s a nightmare!": Ricky Ponting hails lead Indian pacer Bumrah

India’s Jasprit Bumrah during the T20 World Cup final against South Africa in Bridgetown, Barbados, recently. Pic/Getty Images

India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been the best multi-format bowler for the last five or six years, reckons former Australia captain Ricky Ponting.
Ponting said that there might have been a few concerns over Bumrah's longevity but he has only returned stronger from injuries.

"I've said it for a long time, he's probably been the best multi-format bowler there's been in world cricket for the last five or six years," Ponting said on the ICC review.

Brilliant comeback

"There might have been some fears a couple of years ago when the injuries came in and would he come back the same, but I think he's actually come back better," he added.

Also Read: Jamie Vardy strikes as Leicester hold Spurs 1-1

Ricky Ponting

"The greatest way to always get a real gauge on these players is by asking [other] players. And when you talk to opposition batsmen about him [Bumrah] in particular, it's always, ‘No, he's a nightmare! You never know what's going to happen.

"One's going to swing, one's going to seam, he's going to bowl an in-swinger, he's going to bowl an out-swinger," he continued.

With 15 wickets in the T20 World Cup, Bumrah played a pivotal role in India's title triumph and Ponting heaped praise on the 30-year-old.

"If I watch what he did in the T20 World Cup - the pace is still there, there's nothing that's changed with the accuracy or what he can deliver," Ponting said.
"The skillset is all the same. He's getting better year on year. He would rank right up there.

Skill, consistency the key

"When you've got that skillset and the consistency that he has, then you're going to be a great player. Look at [Glenn] McGrath, look at [James] Anderson, these guys, their longevity and their skills being able to hold up for such a long period of time is what separates them from the rest," Ponting added.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever