Mitchell Johnson praises India’s bowling & Jasprit Bumrah after pacer takes 6 for 33

India found themselves in the driver’s seat in the crucial third Test in Melbourne against Australia on Friday as they bowled out the hosts for a paltry 151 in reply to their massive 443 for 7 declared. Among the Indian bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah was the peak with 6 scalps for 33, his third five-wicket haul in the longer format in less than a year.

All three of his fifers have come on foreign soils so far, reiterating the fact that he has been one of the most potent weapons of the Indian pace battery these days. Praises poured in from all quarters for the 25-year-old bowler who already has earned respect from former Australian greats like Glenn McGrath and Dennis Lillee in this tour and is doing great in this series with 17 scalps in five innings, becoming the highest wicket-taker for India so far.

He is the joint highest with Australian spinner Nathan Lyon (though Bumrah has a better average and strike rate). On Friday, another former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson praised Bumrah saying the latter has been “absolutely sensational” in the series and congratulated him for his six-for – the best figures for the young bowler in Tests now.

Listening to @abcgrandstand & I really don’t know what to say apart from, India are showing why they are the No.1 Test team right now. @Jaspritbumrah93 absolutely sensational & has been throughout this series, congrats 6/33 name up on the MCG honours board 👏🏼 #AUSvsIND

— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) December 28, 2018

India, however, did not enforce the follow-on despite securing a lead of 292 runs in the first innings and chose to bat again in the second innings. New Indian openers Hanuma Vihari and Mayank Agarwal were back into the middle and pushed the overall lead above 300, making it more challenging for the hosts with over two days of play left.

India bowling well like they have all series, putting the Aussies under pressure. Dig deep lads #AUSvsIND

— Mitchell Johnson (@MitchJohnson398) December 28, 2018

Australia’s batting collapse

Johnson, 37, besides praising the Indian bowlers, also took a dig at the Aussies, asking their batsmen to dig deep in the match. Four Australian batsmen managed to score in the 20s with captain Tim Paine and opener Marcus Harris scoring the highest individual scores of 22. The hosts lost wickets in a heap after resuming at the overnight score of eight for no loss.

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