‘He is bowling it like a spinner’ - Mitchell McClenaghan decodes Pat Cummins’ slow bouncer

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s skipper Pat Cummins has been in brilliant form in the ongoing season of the IPL (Indian Premier League) 2024. With a massive price tag of INR 20.5 crore on his back, the ace Australian pacer has so far justified his price by putting in excellent performances and leading SRH to success. 

One of the most impactful weapons in Cummins’ arsenal is his slow bouncer, which has seen many batters fall. In SRH’s recent clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where every bowler was being smashed out of the park, Cummins managed to register a spell of 3/43 in four overs.

His slower bouncer saw him take the wickets of RCB skipper Faf du Plessis and Mahipal Lomror, with former MI pacer Mitchell McClenaghan coming forward to decode the SRH skipper’s tactics and the slow bouncer. 

Also Read: 'I wish I was a batter' - Pat Cummins opens up on RCB vs SRH run-fest

“In terms of his slower bouncer compared to the other guys, I guess the length first he is getting it much higher than the other guys trying to bowl it. But what he does is he is trying to bowl it like a spinner," McClenaghan said on ESPNcricinfo's Time Out show.

"Pat has changed his grip at the top, he is bowling it like a spinner. It grips on the seam and that's what makes it stop more than other people's slower bouncers. He is consistently hitting the seam, which makes it stop, more effective and get the lateral movement," he added.

Cummins that we saw in the last IPL for KKR relied predominantly on yorkers: McClenaghan

Furthermore, Mitchell McClenaghan pointed out how the Cummins everyone saw in the earlier seasons of the IPL used to predominantly rely on yorkers as his specialty. However, the World Cup winner has been quite strategic with his deliveries in the IPL 2024. 

"Cummins that we saw in the last IPL for KKR relied predominantly on yorkers, but this season we are seeing a completely different and a far better tactical bowler," McClenaghan said.