The legend of fast bowler Curtly Ambrose holds Jasprit Bumrah in high esteem. This is despite worrying reports about recurring stress fractures that have affected Bumrah’s bowling action. As the West Indian believes all speed merchants are liable to be injured on the field.
“Jasprit Bumrah, I can tell you something about him. He has been a huge fan of mine ever since I first saw him,” said Ambrose in an interview with PTI. “What I love about him is that he is so unconventional but highly effective.” When you look at conventional pace bowlers like Bumrah, they have always seemed so unorthodox.
At 30 years old; this means that there will never be a stage during limited-overs matches when he cannot take wickets. He is equally good with both new and old balls in Test cricket especially when it starts reverse swinging.
There are a number of complications involving his back health and he had surgery last year in March following some months of rest. After enduring lengthy rehabilitation ahead of India’s ODI World Cup at home last year November. He has been tremendous ever since then.
Therefore, Ambrose added that nothing should change from how Bumrah approaches his game and technique by not tampering with his bowling style.
“I think he has done a fantastic job for India actually still doing it now actually doing it across all three formats. And I met him when India played here couple years ago against the West Indies… He was just completely different to anything I’d seen before,” said. Ambrose who is part of promotions for West Indies being one of two hosts for T20 world cup jointly held by USA and West Indies.”
Bumrah’s unique style means that his chest opens up towards the point where the ball leaves his hand and this could put extra strain on his back but Curtly believes every faster should deal with risks involved in their profession.
“In my little experience, no two bowlers are the same. Similarities but never the same though we all have different styles everyone is different. In terms of his longevity, in terms of injuries, every fast bowler there’s always risk of being injured and yet at the same time you can’t go out there thinking that wa,” Ambrose said.
“You have to do your best job and whatever will be will be. The only time he should change is maybe if…he has a serious injury or has been asked to change his action or something.” Said the legendary pacer who featured in 98 tests for West Indies and took 405 wickets
The tall right-arm pacer was famous for consistently causing extra bounce to the world’s top batsmen because of his height which stood at 6 feet seven inches. Despite this he doesn’t think Bumrah’s back problem is entirely due to his bowling action alone.
“I’ve never had it (stress fracture). So, I wouldn’t want to get into trouble by saying what they should do on that one. I’ll leave that one for a medical expert. No…his stress does not only come from his action,” argued the Antiguan cricketer.”
“A person could look at Ian Bishop; he had a perfect technique and yet he also suffered with stress fracture,” argued an Antiguan cricketer.
Ambrose warns about burn-out
There has bee a lot of cricket played globally than ever before, with the calendar also occupied with many T20 leagues around the world. Ambrose noted that massive changes going on in the sport and their negative consequences.
“The game is a bit more commercialized now. And there is too much cricket being play as well. They go from one series to another, they have franchise cricket as well. Guys could get burnt out,” he said.
“It’s still fantastic. There are great players, but there is just too much cricket being play at the moment and that would be a slight concern for me.”
Test cricket creates legends
Throughout his career, Ambrose hails from Antigua and was extensively involved in limited overs cricket. Nevertheless, he strongly maintained that Test Cricket was the only format that gave birth to legends.
“More than anything else I always wanted to play test match cricket over any other thing. I’ve played ODIs before; I did four-day matches but that doesn’t count for me as international cricket. A real form of cricket for me is Test match cricket.
“I think at the end of a career if you wish to be judge. If you want to become a legend you need to play test cricket.. You can’t become a legend by playing ODIs or T20s. You know they say that Tests are dying, I don’t think so.
“…the powers that be, need to do something to make Test match cricket a little more attractive and we’re going to be okay… But Test match cricket isn’t going anywhere,” he asserted.
Ambrose dominated the world’s crickets during 90s; cherishing his battles against legendary batsmen like Sachin Tendulkar In today’s era. This great bowler would have loved nothing better than testing himself against batting greats of today such as Virat Kohli.
“When I played he (1990s), I used to love it when there were challenges. Every team had at least a few great batsmen. And you know, with reputations too. These are the guys that really bring the best out of me.
“More than numbers nine, ten, eleven, I enjoy dismissing them. You talk about these guys, they are great players (Kohli & Co). It would be nice to play against them but having said that. I’ve played against some greats in my time as well,” he said.
Ambrose pointed out the fact that the sport has become more competitive internationally and mentioned positively some countries including USA and Afghanistan.
“Well before this World Cup commenced I predicted some upsets and so far we have seen a few. So that’s good for me; it makes it more interesting instead of all the big teams just running away,” he said.
