'I thought his career might have been finished' - Glenn McGrath lauds Ishant Sharma for his comeback

The Indian cricket team suffered a humbling defeat against the Kiwis at the Basin Reserve in Wellington where they were outplayed by the Kane Williamson-led New Zealanders in almost every facet of the game. Batting first on what was a greenish track on an opening day, the Indian top-order failed to cope with the conditions on offer and the relentlessness of the hosts bowling attack-led by Trent Boult, Tim Southern, and Kyle Jamieson.

The New Zealand pacers didn’t let the Indian batsmen get off the hook and they were eventually bowled out for 165 in their first innings. All eyes were then on the Indian pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami to emulate what they have been doing for the past two years and help India get back in the game. But, barring Ishant, who claimed a five-wicket haul, none of Bumrah and Shami could make any substantial impact.

However, former Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath isn’t too bothered with the performance of Indian fast bowlers in Wellington. Citing the example of Bumrah, McGrath said that the pace attack has grappled with injuries and he has no doubt that it still a world-class attack.

“I still have total faith in the Indian (bowling) lineup. They had a few injuries off late. Sharma is coming back and he did get five wickets. Bumrah had a couple of injuries and he is coming back. So, yeah, I think the Indian bowling attack is world-class and there is no doubt about that,” McGrath told reporters as quoted by Times of India.

“I don’t have any issues with the bowling attack, you don’t lose form overnight. It was just one of those things where the toss made a huge difference. (in the first test in New Zealand), but you still got to get and score runs,” he added.

Glenn McGrath throws his weight behind the Indian pace-bowling attack

McGrath hailed Ishant for the way he has revived his career– which he had feared was finished– in the past couple of years.

“Ishant has a lot of experience, the way he’s a comeback in the last couple years, it been impressive. I thought his career might have been finished at the international level, but he has reinvented himself and he is bowling well,” said the 50-year-old champion fast bowler.

The right-hander also heaped praise on Shami for his deceptive pace and Jasprit Bumrah for being ‘unique’. “Shami bowls good pace and is deceptive in the pace he bowls, he can move the ball around and is very experienced, just knows the game so well.”

“Jasprit is unique with the way he goes about its short run-up, powers through the crease can swing the ball, good control and good pace (in) second third spells. And then on top of that the other quicks and spinner” he added.

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