“Mate, you don’t need to do that” - Mike Hussey recalls rebuking Jasprit Bumrah in his maiden IPL season
Former Australia player Michael Hussey recently recalled an incident when he advised Jasprit Bumrah during a match for the Mumbai Indians in the 2014 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Hussey had urged the pacer to avoid giving send-offs to batters after dismissing them.
Speaking on the 'Willow Talk' podcast, Hussey recalled giving Jasprit Bumrah strong advice after he got Ab de Villiers out in a match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and gave him a big send-off.
“He burst onto the scene in the IPL. I remember having one stern word with him though,” Hussey said. “In one of his early games, he got AB de Villiers out ..obviously a great of the game, and he gave him a big send-off and AB wasn’t too happy about it. He sort of stared him down."
"I remember just pulling Bumrah aside and saying, ‘Mate you don’t need to do that. You have got that much skill that much talent, getting the wicket is enough. That’s the biggest sledge you can give, you don’t need to give send-offs. If you want to have respect in the game and get respected by your peers, then maybe just don’t give send-offs,'" Hussey recalled.
Michael Hussey on Jasprit Bumrah's success in Test cricket
On the same podcast, Hussey added that a lot of people in India were doubtful of Jasprit Bumrah succeeding in Test cricket.
“In India, initially all the talks were like how he will only succeed in the white ball cricket with that bowling action and that run up," he said.
However, Hussey recalled playing Bumrah in the nets at the Mumbai Indians and said he was not surprised at the pacer's success in Test cricket.
“He was just a young kid coming through and I remember facing him in the nets and literally couldn’t get bat on ball. I felt like I was using a toothpick. I remember thinking oh I can’t even see the ball, can’t even pick the ball coming out of his hand. His action is so unique. He was staggering with his run up and I was like what’s going on here, who the heck is this guy and then suddenly woof the ball whistles past my eyebrows at 145kph," Hussey added.
While several experts claimed that Jasprit Bumrah's action put a lot of pressure on his body and that he would not play Test cricket, Hussey always felt that the Indian quick could play the longest format as well.
“It is too much pressure on the body. He can’t play Test cricket. But I always thought nah he has got the skills and ability and if he has the desire to play Test cricket he could and isn’t he doing it bloody well at the moment,” he added.