"I’m a big fan of Bumrah": West Indies legend Curtly Ambrose

Pacer Jasprit Bumrah v USA in New York recently. Pic/Getty Images

Curtly Ambrose is a huge fan of Jasprit Bumrah and despite the Indian spearhead's struggles with stress fractures in the past, the Caribbean legend would not want to change anything in his unorthodox action as he feels every fast bowler takes the field with a risk of getting injured.

Bumrah, arguably the best all-format pacer in the game right now, has had his fair share of back problems and underwent a surgery in March last year. After a long rehab, Bumrah made a comeback ahead of the ODI World Cup in India in November. The 30-year-old can get wickets in a T20 at any stage of the game and in the longest format, he has the ability to strike with both the new and the old ball, more so when it is reversing.

Unconventional, but effective

In a telephonic interview, Ambrose said Bumrah should not change a thing unless he sustains a serious injury. "What I can tell you something about Jasprit Bumrah, I'm a big fan. Right from ever since I saw him the first time. He's so unconventional, but highly effective. And that's what I like about him. When you look at traditional fast bowlers, you wouldn't look at Bumrah, he's so unorthodox.

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Curtly Ambrose

"He has done a great job for India and still doing a great job in all formats. I met him a couple of years ago when India played in Antigua. He's someone I've always enjoyed watching because he's so different," said Ambrose who is involved with promoting the ongoing T20 World Cup here.

‘Everyone is different'

Bumrah's open-chested action does put pressure on his back, but Ambrose believes every fast bowler has to deal with risks like that. "From my little experience, there are no two bowlers who are exactly alike. Bowlers may have similarities, but they are never exactly alike and we all have our different styles everyone is different.

"In terms of his longevity, in terms of injuries, [for] every fast bowler, there is always risk of being injured. But at the same time you can't go out there thinking that way. "You've got to go out there and do the job to the best of your ability and whatever happens, happens. The only way he should change is if he, may be, sustains a serious injury or has to re-model his action or something," said the 60-year-old who played 98 Tests for the West Indies taking 405 wickets.

Ambrose, who troubled the world's best batters with the extra bounce he created because of his 6"7' frame, also doesn't believe that the stress on Bumrah's back is only because of his action. "I've never been through it [stress fracture]. So, it would be unfair for me to even try to say what to do. I will leave that for the medical expert. I don't think Bumrah's stress comes totally from his action. You can look at Ian Bishop, he had a perfect action and he also had stress fracture," reasoned the cricketer from Antigua.

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