Glenn McGrath impressed with Indian pacer Umesh Yadav

The Indian team is preparing themselves for the long and busy tour of Sri Lanka, which kicks off on Wednesday, July 26 with the 1st Test at Galle. The No.1 Test side is all charged up for their first overseas tour after a long home season that comprised of 13 Test matches. Indian team is considered as the favorites, as in the last series they had beaten the hosts 2-1 in 2015.

Former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath was very impressed with Indian speedster Umesh Yadav. The experienced Aussie fast bowler is the director of the MRF Pace Academy in India. McGrath is in India for a two-day Coaching Programme for Mumbai Cricket Association for their Ranji, Under 23 and Under 19 category of fast bowlers.

Umesh is bowling well

The legendary fast bowler had some words of praise for the Indian pace spearhead. “Umesh Yadav is bowling really well at the moment, he is up match after match, he is little bit older than what was a couple of years ago, he is also lot more experienced and he knows, (or) he should know, how to prepare himself, how to recover,” McGrath told the reporters.

“Indian bowlers are going well and (Umesh) he knows how to recover and when you know that you got fewer chances of injuries,” added the veteran pacer.

Umesh Yadav has bowled superbly in the past year and extremely well in the home season for India. He was the prime option fast bowler for his captain Virat Kohli in the series against Australia and picked up wickets at crucial times.

“I always say being fit is not so much, how long you can bowl, it is about how quickly you recover and as we get older we get to know ourselves better. And I think that has helped Umesh and he is bowling well, with confidence,” said Glenn McGrath.

Injuries are part of the game

McGrath has faced many injuries in his long and successful career. He considers them as a part of the sport. “That’s the thing even in Australia and all over the world, fast bowlers get injured, it is such a tough part of the sport. It’s an unnatural thing they say to run it and bowl fast, and put that stress on the body. They also say as we mature and get older our body sort of finishes growing and we have fewer injuries,” he said.

The fast bowler also considered that there should be regular breaks for the fast bowlers to reduce their injuries. “A fast bowler needs an off season. If you keep bowling whole year without an off season, sooner or later injuries are going to creep in, you got to have a break to put that strength and fitness back in,” he added.

Tough to be a fast bowler in India

As seen over the years, most of the pitches in India assist the spinners more as compared to fast bowlers. McGrath was also happy with Umesh’s quick progress in his speed and lengths of bowling on Indian wickets.

“Everyone wants to bowl fast, I wanted to bowl fast, but no one is express. To be express is a unique thing. It’s not that many bowlers can be 140—150 kmph quicker. It is something very unique. It is a raw talent, you can’t teach that.”

“Express bowlers are very rare and I’m always on the look—out for one. India is probably the toughest place in the world to be a fast bowler, but that plays a part. But as I said (bowling) 150 plus (kmph) is rare,” said McGrath.