BUMRAHBUMRAH India's 'X-factor' for Headfor Head BRETT LEE, is 'Cat burglar' foris for

PTI Perth: Dubbed as the bowler "impossible to face" by swashbuckling Australian batter Travis Head and a "cat burglar" by former tearaway pacer Brett Lee, Jasprit Bumrah's reputation precedes him. The India pacer, who is set to captain India in the first Test of the five-match series starting here Friday, has left both past and present Australian players in awe of his skill and threat. Not since the golden era of the West Indies in the 1970s has a touring pace bowler struck fear into the hearts of Australians as much as Bumrah, according to the local media here. On his two previous Test tours of Australia, the 30-year-old Bumrah, who is set to captain India in the first Test of the five-match series here from Friday, took 32 wickets at an average of 21.25, including a match-winning 6/33 during the 2018 Boxing Day Test.

Since the start of the 20th century, only two touring bowlers have taken more wickets in Australia at a lower average Richard Hadlee and Curtly Ambrose. Head, Usman Khawaja and Steven Smith all top-order batters who are set to face Bumrah in the marquee five-match series are unanimous about the pivotal role the Indian pace spearhead can play for India. "Impossible (to face). You try to feel like you're one step ahead, but it always feels like he's that next step," Head told 'Fox Cricket'. "Any format of the game, he's incredible. He's their X-factor, he's the guy they go to every time, and more often than not, he's able to produce for them. "In big moments you want big players, and I think he's their biggest. You've got your work cut out as a batter. He's someone that's going to be difficult over summer.” Part of Bumrah's magic is his signature bowling action, which defies cricket convention.

India's confidence hit but Australia won't underestimate visitors: Labuschagne A shattering defeat to New Zealand on home soil would have caused a "little bit of damage" to India's confidence but Australia will not make the mistake of underestimating the visitors, said charismatic batter Marnus Labuschagne here on Tuesday.

The world No. 2 India are heading into the five-Test Border-Gavaskar series, starting here on Friday, following their whitewash at home, which ended their 12-year unbeaten run in their own backyard. Australia's middle-order mainstay Labuschagne believes the loss to the Kiwis would have dented India's confidence. "It's really hard to judge. They played in completely different conditions spinning conditions but having India come here off the back of a loss at home is something that's never happened before (in my career)," he added.