(Getty Images)
Former Australian Test captain Tim Paine recently commended the Indian pace bowling attack for its remarkable performance in international cricket over the past few years. He eagerly anticipates how India’s fast bowlers will fare in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia later this year.
India’s prowess in fast bowling was not traditionally strong, but in recent years, they have consistently produced top-quality fast bowlers across all formats. Players like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj have played pivotal roles in this resurgence. India is now nurturing a new crop of fast bowlers who are expected to serve the team well in the long run.
Prior to 2018, the Indian cricket team had never won a Test series in Australia. However, they achieved back-to-back triumphs, winning 2-1 in both the 2018-19 and 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Their historic victory at the Gabba in 2020-21 made them the first team this century to defeat Australia at that venue.
India Have Got High Quality Of Fast Bowlers – Tim Paine
During a recent discussion, Tim Paine highlighted the transformation brought about by India’s formidable fast bowling strength in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The former wicketkeeper-batsman remarked that India’s prowess with the ball had posed a significant challenge to Australia’s customary aggressive style of play.
“Now that India have got high-quality fast bowlers, the dynamic of that series, particularly in Australia, has really changed,” Paine told CrickTracker.
“We used to be able to be quite aggressive and bowl a lot of bouncers, have a fun bit of fun getting stuck up to the Indian batters. Now, the shoe is on the other foot, it is coming back at us.
“I am looking forward to the next one watching how your fast bowlers perform here in Australia and how both batting lineups handle the pace,” he added.
India last faced Australia in the World Test Championship final.
India and Australia are set to clash in a five-match Test series, kicking off at Perth’s Optus Stadium on November 22. This series holds significance as part of the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. Before heading to Australia, Rohit Sharma’s squad will engage in five Test matches.
The last encounter between India and Australia in red-ball cricket was during the WTC final in June 2023 at Kennington Oval. Led by Pat Cummins, Australia secured a 209-run victory over India to clinch the championship. Despite this setback, India’s team draws confidence from their recent series triumphs.
Australia’s vulnerabilities in batting were evident during their 1-1 draw against the West Indies at the Gabba in 2024. The Pat Cummins-led side currently occupies second place in the ongoing WTC cycle standings, accumulating 62.50 percentage points from 12 matches, trailing India, who leads with 68.52 percentage points from nine matches.
