MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — India captain Rohit Sharma wants his team's other bowlers to “step up” and help pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who has been the standout star of the series with Australia.
Ahead of the start of Thursday's Melbourne Cricket Ground test and with the five-match series level at 1-1 after the rainy draw at Brisbane, Bumrah has taken 21 wickets at an average of 10.90, while the rest of the Indian bowlers have only five more wickets among them at a higher rate — 26 wickets at 36.81.
“Bumrah is certainly making the most of it. (Mohammed) Siraj and the other guys who are bowling around him obviously know they need to step up to get the job done as well,” said Sharma.
“They’re trying really hard. They’ve been a little unlucky as well, a lot of plays and misses, certain opportunities have gone down as well — those things can happen."
Rohit said he was “fine” after taking a knock to his knee while batting in the MCG nets on Sunday, but refused to guarantee he would remain at the No. 6 spot from where he has failed to pass 10 in this series.
He also suggested Boxing Day’s hot weather forecast for Melbourne — up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) could encourage India to pick two spinners, despite veteran Ravichandran Ashwin retiring and flying back to Chennai after the Gabba test in Brisbane.
Sharma praised Bumrah's work ethic.
“The impact that he’s had on the series so far is massive,” Sharma said. “I hope he continues to do that because these (next) two games are very important for us. How he operates is very plain and simple. He’s got so much belief in his own skill-set that there’s not much discussion that we need to have with him — it makes it easy for me."
Ravindra Jadeja has failed to take a wicket in 23 overs. Ashwin’s retirement means Washington Sundar shapes as the other spin option, and Tanush Kotian has been added to their touring party as a back-up spinning allrounder.
In the Australian camp, run-maker Travis Head has been passed fit to play and will be joined in the side by MCG hero Scott Boland, who took six wickets for seven runs on his test debut at the MCG in the 2021-22 Ashes series.
Captain Pat Cummins confirmed Wednesday that his team would make two changes for the fourth test, with 19-year-old Sam Konstas to debut — replacing Nathan McSweeney — and Boland coming in for the injured Josh Hazlewood.
The 30-year-old Head has been in strong form, hitting centuries in Adelaide and Brisbane. Head has made 409 runs at an average of 81.80 across the first three tests, dominating India even as the rest of Australia’s batters have faced significant issues against Bumrah.
The fifth and final test is scheduled to start on Jan. 3 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Teams:
Australia: Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
India:: to be named.
AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
Australia's Travis Head leaves the field as it rains during play on day four of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
Australia's Travis Head plays a shot during play on day five of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's Jasprit Bumrah celebrates the wicket of Australia's Marnus Labuschagne during play on day five of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
India's captain Rohit Sharma looks on as rain delays play during play on day three of the third cricket test between India and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia, Monday, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher)
