5 Bowlers who can trouble Steve Smith in Test cricket

5. Jasprit Bumrah:

India was always known for its embarrassment of riches in terms of batsman and spinners. Hardly an Indian pacer has stayed consistently prominent in the international arena in the last decade as Jasprit Bumrah has. He rose to the attention of everyone with his heroics in the IPL, and then for the Indian team in limited-overs cricket.

Virat Kohli unleashed Bumrah in the test arena on the tour to South Africa last year. Many people raised doubts about his sustainably in the longer format, considering his distinctive action and a stammered run-up. But Bumrah has silenced everyone in a space of 12 test matches. The 25-year-old has bagged a total of 62 wickets at 19 on four overseas tours, including a five-fer on each of these tours.

It is not only his knack of picking wickets but his absolute genius mind which makes him the best fast bowler of this generation. Whether it was the slower yorker to Shaun Marsh or exposing Jonny Bairstow’s off-stump weakness or the recent agony he bestowed upon the West Indies batters; Jasprit Bumrah executes his plans to inch perfection.

Bumrah has leaped to the third position in the Test bowlers rankings. There is no question, whatsoever, that Bumrah will have certain plots and strategies against Smith when they face-off. Maybe a drill of bouncers, occasional pinpoint yorker and just consistently bowling in the channel outside off; the contest between Steve Smith and Jasprit Bumrah will surely be an intriguing one.