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Marcus Harris and Jasprit Bumrah look set for long, successful Test careers

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Expert
14th December, 2018
17

It’s early days, but 26-year-old Australian opening batsman Marcus Harris and 25-year-old Indian opening bowler Jasprit Bumrah are exciting prospects.

This Perth Test is only Harris’ second, and Bumrah’s eighth, but they have already notched up runs and wickets to command attention.

Harris’ first class career got off to a flying start in only his third Sheffield Shield game for Western Australia. He broke Clem Hill’s record that had stood for 115 years as the youngest to crack 150. He was 18 years of age at the time.

This season’s highlight has been an unbeaten 250 for the Vics against NSW, showing he’s not afraid to go big.

What he’s shown in his three Test digs to date is an ability to mix patience with power and placement.

If there’s a weakness it’s a casual flick outside off stump, with a horizontal bat.

But when he sticks to his strength of a perpendicular bat in an arc from cover through mid-off, straight, mid-on, and mid-wicket, Harris looks every inch a Test batsman.

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Yesterday in Perth was a perfect example, especially in the patience department.

In his first Test half-century, Harris struck nine fours off 90 deliveries.

That translates to 36 off nine deliveries, with the remaining 14 off 81 – that’s patience.

Marcus Harris of Victoria bats.

Marcus Harris with Victoria. (Photo: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

His final score of 70 off 141 with 10 fours, translates to 40 off 10, and the remaining 30 off 131 – same story.

The flick was again his undoing, so once he either improves the shot, or gives it a miss, the baggy greens have unearthed a new faithful servant.

Overall, he’s patience personified with the bat, and an excellent fieldsman.

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Jasprit Bumrah is a totally different proposition.

No-one could teach a budding bowler to bowl like Bumrah, he’s exclusive to himself.

I’ve never seen a fast bowler walk eight to ten paces before breaking into a run of only six steps yet he can generate 140-145 kph deliveries with superb accuracy, moving the ball either way with his delivery arm well away from his ducking head.

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Decidedly odd, but very effective.

In only his third Test since debuting in January this year against South Africa, Bumrah had career-best match figures of 7-111 in Johannesburg, claiming the wickets of Quentin de Kock twice, plus Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, and AB de Villiers.

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By any standards, that’s very impressive.

Bumrah is among the leading Test wicket-takers this year with 35 at 24.91. He sits just behind the leader – South African quick and world number one Kagiso Rabada, who has 46 at 20.39.

That too is very impressive.

He’s been the best Indian bowler so far in this series, but Lady Luck hasn’t looked kindly on him, despite the fact he has pointlessly beaten more Australian batsmen than his colleagues.

So get used to Harris and Bumrah. They will be around for a long time – and will always be entertaining.

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