The Indian cricket team will aim for glory in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. India and Australia are two of the greatest cricketing nations, and India’s recent whitewash against a 3-game Test series against New Zealand adds a lot more anticipation for the 5-match Test series, which will start on November 22, 2024, in Perth.

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Jasprit Bumrah is the ‘Cat burglar’ for Brett Lee and India’s ‘X-factor’ for Travis Head in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Dubbed as the bowler “impossible to face” by swashbuckling Australian batter Travis Head and a “cat burglar” by former tearaway pacer Brett Lee, Jasprit Bumrah’s reputation precedes him.

The India pacer, who is set to captain India in the first Test of the five-match series starting Friday, has left both past and present Australian players in awe of his skill and threat.

Not since the golden era of the West Indies in the 1970s has a touring pace bowler struck fear into the hearts of Australians as much as Bumrah, according to the local media.

On his two previous Test tours of Australia, the 30-year-old Bumrah, who is set to captain India in the first Test of the five-match series from Friday, took 32 wickets at an average of 21.25, including a match-winning 6/33 during the 2018 Boxing Day Test.

Since the start of the 20th century, only two touring bowlers have taken more wickets in Australia at a lower average — Richard Hadlee and Curtly Ambrose.

Head, Usman Khawaja and Steven Smith — all top-order batters — who are set to face Bumrah in the marquee five-match series are unanimous about the pivotal role the Indian pace spearhead can play for India.

 Part of Bumrah’s magic is his signature bowling action, which defies cricket convention.

Bumrah’s “awkward and weird” action made Khawaja wonder where the ball came from when he first faced the Indian.

Star batter Smith is one of the few Australian players who has an impressive record against Bumrah, averaging 56.67 across formats, but the New South Welshman admitted that he still feels vulnerable against the Indian speedster early in his innings.

(PTI)