Australia pace-bowling legend Glenn McGrath on Friday famous the unusual English situations within the ongoing India-England sequence, however added that the sequence, together with the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, has restored his confidence that Check cricket is “alive and properly.”
“It’s been fairly high-scoring, which is slightly uncommon in English situations with the Dukes cricket ball. But it surely hasn’t been a one-sided affair. It’s been good, stable Check cricket. It’s been fulfilling. It’s shut.
“I used to be apprehensive that Check cricket was struggling a bit. However after watching the Australia-India and the England-India sequence, I believe Check cricket is alive and properly, particularly in these three nations.
“Clearly, they need the sport to final so long as potential. I don’t thoughts if the pitches are slightly flat, so long as there’s one thing in it for the bowler. And if the sport’s coming proper right down to the wire on the fifth day, then it’s excellent, isn’t it? After we noticed that final recreation (at Previous Trafford), there was an opportunity of a consequence, however India batted properly and held on. Everybody’s been and watching. I believe they’re getting good crowds. They haven’t been sluggish, boring matches,” he mentioned on the MRF-Pachaiyappa’s floor right here.
Requested if India ought to ration the amount of overs that Jasprit Bumrah bowls to permit him to play extra Checks, he mentioned: “If he’s simply bowling briefly spells, then the batting workforce know they only can get by way of the three or 4 overs after which they’re away. So, it relies upon lots on the opposite bowlers.
“I’ve watched Prasidh Krishna bowl within the IPL, and I’ve all the time been a giant fan of him. Sadly, he didn’t get extra alternatives in Australia. However sure, you want one other group of quick bowlers coming by way of to steadiness it out in order that he doesn’t should bowl lengthy spells.”
On whether or not Bumrah ought to contemplate staying away from white-ball codecs, he mentioned: “He’s so efficient in One-Day and T20 cricket. To restrict himself to Check cricket could be a disgrace.”