Give Jasprit Bumrah a break: Glenn McGrath highlights why bowler could be at risk of injury

India’s Jasprit Bumrah is arguably the best pacer of this generation. Irrespective of the format the Indian pacer has delivered consistently for both country and in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Mumbai Indians franchise

His ability to swing the new ball both ways and bowl a deadly yorker at will alongside subtle pace variations are the attributes of his bowling that make him a modern great.

However, Bumrah has a unique where he has a short run-up but still manages to bowl over 140KPH regularly. “The last two strides that he takes, he just powers into the crease. Thus, his momentum increases, and that’s where he gets the pace,” McGrath said during an interaction with the media here at the MRF Pace Foundation.

“Someone like Bumrah needs an off-season because he puts so much into every ball. With so much extensive effort, he needs a break. If he keeps playing, the amount of pressure created given the bowling action he has, he is bound to get injured, which he has in the past,” McGrath would add.

Andy Roberts once told The Indian Express that the 29-year-old’s action was the “the strangest action that I have seen on a cricket field.” Stress fractures or issues in the back have been common among fast bowlers in the past, but even with advances in modern sports science, it remains an issue for Bumrah. Different reasons for the injury have been cited by experts in the past, from improper fitness and training regimens to poor workload management. But Bumrah’s action has often led to debate over his longevity as an all-format player.

“My problem with Bumrah and I mentioned it to him, is how long that body will hold up with that short run and the amount of effort he has to put into his bowling, it is a human body. It is not a machine ,” Michael Holding was quoted as saying by PTI.