Damien Fleming thinks James Anderson and an Indian pacer are best swing bowlers in world right now

One does not often see Australians granting certificates to opponents touring their country for a cricket series. But former Aussie pacer Damien Fleming recently proved himself to be an exception by praising Indian quick as one of the two best swing bowlers in the world at this moment. The other bowler is England’s James Anderson, who recently eclipsed Fleming’s compatriot Glenn McGrath to become the highest wicket-taking pacer in Tests.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, one of the two Indian bowlers to have five-wicket hauls in all the three formats of the game, is a key member of the Indian side which is touring Australia at the moment. The bowler has been on and off in the recent past because of injury but is expected to serve his side for the entire Australian summer this season. His opening bowling partnership with Jasprit Bumrah is seen by many as the best in the world at the moment at least in white-ball cricket.

“I love watching Bhuvi Kumar because, probably with James Anderson, they are the best swing bowlers in the world,” 48-year-old Fleming was quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald as saying. “He actually has the skills where he can bowl outswingers and inswingers to right and left-handed batsmen.”

‘Bhuvi has increased his pace of late’

“When he (Bhuvi) first started, he lacked a yard or two in Test cricket, but he has increased his pace a little bit in the past two years,” Fleming, who represented Australia between 1994 and 2001 and has 209 international wickets in his kitty, said. India’s pace attack is often praised for coming of age and Bhuvneshwar, who of late has added some pace to his bowling without compromising the swing, is a valuable cog in the wheel.

The 28-year-old had a decent series in South Africa earlier this year but could not play the Test series in England, will be somebody Kohli will be looking forward to during the tour which features three T20Is, four Tests and three ODIs. Along with Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar makes the visitors’ bowling unit look formidable in Australia.

Even Fleming agreed. “That’s as impressive a pace attack that I have ever seen India bring out to Australia. They are actually quite experienced now, too. They will have two unlucky quicks. It’s a real luxury. That’s good for them,” he said.

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