'Much like Mitchell Johnson...: AUS Opener On The Looming Challenge of Facing Jasprit Bumrah In BGT

Some of the striking contests between individuals from India and blokes from Australia will be on display in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The Indian batting order filled with power pack performers will face the Aussie pace battery, and the Australian batters will be up in front of the the "X-factor" of Team India, Jasprit Bumrah.

Aussie Batters On ‘X-Factor’ Jasprit Bumrah

Ahead of the start of the 5-match Test affair, Aussie batters, Steve Smith, Travis Head, and Usman Khawaja expressed how challenging it is to face Jasprit Bumrah. Speaking on FOX Cricket, Steve Smith said about Bumrah that it takes a little while to get used to him.

"He is just awkward with the way he bowls, it is obviously very different to a lot of other people. It takes a little bit of getting used to. I have played against him quite a lot now, and it still takes a couple of balls to get used to the different rhythm," said Smith.

Describing how it feels facing Bumrah in just one word, one of Australia's chief tormentors, Head said, "Impossible."

Head said that Bumrah is always one step ahead of every batter and is the X-Factor of Indian team.

"You try to feel like you are one step ahead, but it always feels like he is that next step," he continued.

"Any format of the game, he is incredible. He is their X-factor, he is the guy they go to every time, and more often than not, he is able to produce for them."

"In big moments you want big players, and I think he is their biggest."

"You have got your work cut out as a batter. He is someone that is going to be difficult over summer," concluded Head.

Opener Khawaja also said, "When I first faced Bumrah, I was like, 'Oh where did that come from?'"

He said that the ball comes quicker to batters than expected because of his unique action and ball release.

"Much like Mitchell Johnson, he had a weird action too. The ball used to come out and felt like it got to you quicker because you did not get a look at it the whole way. Jasprit's a little bit the same, with arms going everywhere" he concluded.