Jasprit Bumrah is ready to play Test cricket: Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting, the head coach of defending champions Mumbai Indians, believes that young fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is ready to play Test cricket. The legendary Australian skipper has known the young fast bowler since his early days in the IPL.

“If you look at the skills Bumrah has and the way he has come through over the last two years, then he is ready to play Test cricket. He’s got everything. He’s got an unusual action, got good pace and with the brand new ball can get some good movement in the air,” said Ponting.

“If India are looking for someone to come in and play Test cricket then I am sure Bumrah’s name will be in the selectors’ mind,” added the former Australian captain.

Ponting also felt that the 22-year-old Gujarat bowler, who made his ODI debut earlier this season in Australia, was coming off an injury last year and the tour Down Under has improved him as a bowler. Bumrah is currently the 5th highest wicket of the tournament with 13 wickets in as many games and has been quite successful in filling the big shoes of injured Lasith Malinga in the MI team.

“Over the last three months, starting with the Australia tour and then the World T20, he has been a stand-out performer and he has been a standout bowler in IPL as well.

“A lot of times, he has bowled the tougher overs an over in Power Play and then generally two in death. His skills with the slower ball, yorkers and bouncers are exactly where we wanted him to be.”

 Also, Read – IPL 2016 Weekly Roundup: Week 5