IND vs AUS Final: Absence of Jasprit Bumrah is advantage for Australia, says Ravi Shastri: Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri reckons team India’s bowling attack for the IND vs AUS Final in World Test Championship appears to be soft as compared to that of their Australian counterparts. He mentioned the absence of Jasprit Bumrah in the attack is a huge loss for team India and an advantage for Australia at the same time.
In terms of overall skill and potency, Australian pacers pip the Indian pacers with a good margin. Their level of skill to move the ball both ways throughout the innings and the combination of the pacer battery makes them special.
However, it must be noted that Indian pacers have fared nicely against the Australians in the recent past. India defeated Australia in Australia despite a lack of quality options in the bowling attack back in 2021.
Ravi Shastri, however, believes the absence of Jasprit Bumrah leaves a huge hole in the Indian bowling lineup which ultimately makes both sides unequal in terms of the pace battery.
“Look at the pace attacks. Which side has the better attack? If Bumrah was here, then I would say equal, with Shami, Bumrah and Siraj. But now when you look at that Australian attack – Cummins and Starc, though Hazlewood is gone,” at an event ahead of the IND vs AUS Final in WTC.
Jasprit Bumrah has been out of the international circuit for close to nine months now due to a prevalent back injury. He underwent surgery in New Zealand to treat his back in April, this year, and is currently rehabilitating. As per the timeline set by the experts, Jasprit Bumrah is anticipated to be fit for India’s campaign in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 later this year.
IND vs AUS Final: Australia favourites to win WTC Final: Ponting
The panel also had the expertise of former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting who believes Australia are slightly ahead of India as he predicted his countrymen to be the winner of the coveted IND vs AUS Final at the Oval in London.
“Slight favourites, yes. There wasn’t much a difference between the two sides in the last two years which means that they have beaten more oppositions than they have lost to,” Ponting explained.
He further mentioned that instead of Michael Nesser, Scott Boland would have been a potent replacement for injured Josh Hazlewood, who is now ruled out of the ICC WTC Final.
“Nesser has obviously been doing great here in County cricket but Scott Boland has got an excellent record. What we have seen in Australia is that when there is anything on the surface at all, he has just been about Australia’s best bowler. He will take Hazlewood’s place,” he said.
Cricket Australia (CA) added Michael Nesser and Sean Abbott to the Aussie test squad for the WTC Final after Hazlewood was ruled out of the test.
For more details head to ICC’s official website.