New Delhi: Top Australia batter Steve Smith is geared up to face India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series that begins in November.
India travel to Australia for the high-profile five match series that begins on November 22 in Perth, having won the last four editions of the contest – two at their home and two Down Under.
It has made Australia determined to wrestle back the trophy and stake their claim to qualify for the World Test Championship final.
India and Australia are currently the two top-ranked teams in the WTC standings and a win for wither of them would place them in a comfortable spot to enter the final.
India have a formidable pace attack led by Jasprit Bumrah and would need him to be at his absolute best in Australia.
Smith acknowledged that Bumrah’s form would be crucial in determining the fate of the series.
“He’s a wonderful bowler, whether I face him with the new ball, slightly older ball, or even the old ball. He’s got great skills with all of them. He’s a great bowler, arguably the best fast bowler across the three formats. It’s always going to be a challenge,” Smith told Star Sports.
Smith has been Australia’s best batter of this generation and has 9,685 runs in 109 Tests. Usually a No.4 batter, the 35-year-old has batted as an opener to fill the gap of the retired David Warner but haven’t found much success.
Since making his debut in 2018, Jasprit Bumrah has been India’s standout bowler, claiming 164 wickets in 37 matches at an average of 20.51. In Australia, Bumrah has taken 32 wickets in seven matches at an average of 21.25.
Bumrah helped India win the first Test against Bangladesh by 280 runs in Chennai.
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