Curtly Ambrose backs Jasprit Bumrah to pick up 400 Test wickets but points out injury-prone action

One of the most lethal pacers to have ever played the game, West Indies pacer Curtly Ambrose has said that he is a big fan of Jasprit Bumrah and that the Indian speedster can go on to pick up 400 wickets in Tests if he remains fit and strong.

Pointing out various points of strengths, Ambrose emphasized that the overall ability of Bumrah to swing the ball along with the ability to seam it and produce lethal yorkers make him superior to his other contemporaries.

"India's got a few good fast bowlers. I'm a big fan of Jasprit Bumrah. He's so different than any bowler I have seen. He's so effective and I'm looking forward to him doing really well. He is as long as he can remain healthy, fit and play long enough. He can seam the ball, swing the ball and bowl great yorkers. He's got a lot in his arsenal. So as long as he can remain on the park for a long period of time, I'm sure he can get up there," Ambrose said on 'The Curtly & Karishma Show' on YouTube.

Ambrose also explained why he put an if around Bumrah’s ability to pick up 400 wickets owing to fitness concerns. He said that the Indian pacer bowls with a very short run-up and also does not have a sprinting bowling action. He generates pace using his body which in turn puts a lot of fo strain on the body and hence it is imperative for him to maintain his fitness if he wants to go a long distance in Test cricket.

“You know in terms of fast bowling, it's generally about rhythm. So, you need to build a good rhythm before you can deliver. Bumrah has got a very short run-up. He walks most of the way and maybe one or two or three little jogs before delivery. So, it simply means he may be putting a little more strain on his body but if he can remain strong enough, I think he'll be ok. It's just about him staying strong to accompany that short run-up. If he can do that, he'll go the distance,” Ambrose added.

Jasprit Bumrah made his Test debut in 2018 against South Africa and has gone strength to strength to become the spearhead of the Indian bowling attack in the pace department.

Discover more

Hasan Ali demolishes Zimbabwe batting line up as Pakistan enforce follow-on

Pakistan continued their dominance against Zimbabwe in the second Test in Harare after bundling out the home side for 132 in the first innings on the third day to take a mammoth 378-run lead. Beginning at 52/4, the hosts only managed to add 80 more runs to their overnight total before getting bowled out. Riding on Hasan Ali’s career-best figures of 5/27 in 13 overs and some fine piece of fielding in the middle, Pakistan rattled the Zimbabwean batting line up. The right-arm bowler completed his fifer, courtesy, a brilliant catch from Azhar Ali in the gully region. Roy Kaia just negotiated a quick, outside off-stump ball towards the off-side that carried to Azhar in a swift manner but he did manage to hold on to it to Ali his fifth wicket. This was the 26-year old's fourth five-wicket haul in the last five innings. In total, he has picked up 24 wickets in those innings at a phenomenal average of 9.58. Apart from Ali, Sajid Khan scalped a couple of wickets while Shaheen Afridi and Tabish Khan picked up a wicket apiece. Wicket-keeper batsman Regis Chakabva top-scored for the hosts with 33 while Donald Triapno chipped in with 23. The Babar Azam-led side en-forced a follow-on after Zimbabwe were all out in the first session of the day itself. Earlier, Pakistan had posted 510/8 (D) in the first innings after Abid Ali notched up his maiden double-century in Tests while Azhar Ali struck a fine century during the course. Apart from these two, Nauman Ali fell short of a well-deserved hundred after he was dismissed for 97. Pakistan lead the two-match Test series 1-0 after they defeated Zimbabwe in the first encounter by an innings and 116 runs while they also won the three-match T20I series 2-1.

Mohammed Shami heaps praises on Virat Kohli, hails him for being a bowler's captain

All cricket lovers are well aware of Indian captain Virat Kohli’s affinity towards fast bowlers. Under his leadership, a huge crop of fast bowlers have emerged from every nooks and corner of the country. Led by Jasprit Bumrah, India’s fast bowling unit looks lethal and has the quality to dismantle any batting line-up on its own. Workhorse Ishant Sharma and a dynamic Mohammed Shami form one of the best if not the best bowling line-up in the world. With bowlers like Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Natarajan still waiting in the fringes, the future of fast bowling looks in good hands. The emergence of a potent fast bowling unit has resulted in back to back Test series victories in Australia and rising through the ranks in places like England, New Zealand and South Africa. The performances of the fast bowling cartel in the last three years have been nothing short of phenomenal. Shami who is one of the integral parts of the Indian red ball setup feels that the consistency of their performance has gone up considerably due to the sort of confidence and freedom given to them by skipper Virat Kohli. "It is also indeed a phase which you can maybe attribute to the luck of this Indian team or hard work. But Virat has always been supportive of his fast bowlers while also giving us freedom on the ground. He only jumps in when our plans fail, otherwise, we're free as a bowling unit to do as we please. He has always been very supportive," Shami was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz. While there has been a preconceived notion about Kohli being a bit too rude to his bowlers at time. However, Shami explained how the skipper of the national team never makes others feel like he is the captain of the team or he is above anyone in the team. He added that it is due to Kohli and the freedom which he gives them which keeps the mood light and jovial in the dressing room which in turn works for India on the field. “As far as our fast-bowling unit or I am concerned as an individual, he has never put any undue pressure on any of us. Usually, there's a doubt in a bowler's mind before he approaches his captain. That has never been the case with Virat. He has not air about himself. He jokes around with us, behaves as if he's our childhood friend," Shami quipped. "This leads to a lot of fun on the ground too. Sometimes there's fun banter, sometimes we also end up saying aggressive things to each other but we never mind it because it happens in the heat of the moment,” the fast bowler concluded. The fast bowling cartel will be crucial to India’s chances in the ICC World Test Championship final followed by the five-match Test series against England. India will meet New Zealand in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship final starting 18th June at Southampton.

Mothers’ Day Special: Watch Mumbai Indians stars get emotional and thank their mother for all the sacrifices

“Only a mother’s love is unconditional. It is only her who at the end of the day asks you, ‘Have you eaten anything? Did you get a sound sleep?,” these were the words of Rahul Chahar, the Mumbai Indians leg spinner while wishing her mother on the occasion of International Mother’s day on May 9. The Mumbai based franchise released a video n twitter where the star players talk about the importance of a mother in their life and wish her on an important day. Apart from Chahar, Suryakumar Yadav, Kiwi bowlers Trent Boult and Adam Milne, South Africa's Quinton de Kock, India's Jayant Yadav, Saurabh Tiwary and the Pandya brothers Hardik and Krunal featured in the video. While Boult and Milne thanked their mother for handling them, Surya got emotional talking about the sacrifices his mother made for him. “You can’t explain in it in words, the sacrifices that a mother makes for her child,” he said. “For me, it’s an emotional thing actually (talking about his mother), but I would like to wish her good health,” Surya said trying to gulp emotions down his throat, while they were clearly visible in his eyes. “And it’s my time now to give whatever little that I could for all she has done and to keep her happy and as close as possible to me,” added the 30-year-old, who made his India debut in February. The Haryana spinner, Jayant too was overwhelmed talking about the sacrifices his mother made for him to archives his dreams. “My mother is the best because of all the efforts and sacrifices she has put in raising three of us (him and his siblings) and making us the best versions of ourselves,” he said. Former Jharkhand skipper Saurabh Tiwary said that he understood the importance of his mother in his life only once he went out of his home for various tours and tournaments. Senior Pandya, Krunal too was emotional enumerating all that his mother has done for him and his brother to make them realise their dreams.

Host broadcaster Star India offers multiple reliefs to advertisers after Covid curtails IPL 2021

After the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League was indefinitely suspended following the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in various franchises, the host broadcaster Star India has given relief to all its advertisers. Star India has asked all its advertisers to pay only for the matches that could be completed in this edition and also given them the flexibility of walking out of deals whenever the tournament resumes later this year. “Given the unprecedented times, Star India has reached out to all their advertisers informing them and their agencies to the only bill for the inventory consumed so far. The contingency plan gives brands the first preference to continue the ad deals if and when BCCI decides to resume the league at a later stage,” PTI quoted an unnamed source as saying. As per the PTI report, the decision has been taken to limit the adverse impact of the suspension of the IPL 2021 on the advertisers and brands associated with the marquee league. “This will enable brands to capitalise on the second burst and the transparency will ensure a minimum adverse impact on their business objectives,” the source added. Notably, only 29 out of a total of 60 scheduled matches could take place this year before BCCI had to postpone the event in the aftermath of Covid-19 reaching its immediate doors. As per the same PTI report, Star Sports had signed deals with as many as 18 brands across various categories while its digital streaming platform Disney+Hotstar had 14 sponsors. Reportedly, the BCCI is planning to resume the remaining part of the IPL in September later this year either before or after the ICC World T20, which too is scheduled to take place in India as of now.