Stick to shorter formats: Shoaib Akhtar wants Jasprit Bumrah to quit Test cricket

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has advised Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah to consider stepping away from Test cricket to preserve his longevity and focus on shorter formats. Speaking on The Nakash Khan Show podcast, Akhtar expressed concerns about Bumrah’s ability to sustain the physical demands of Test cricket and emphasised the challenges faced by fast bowlers in the longest format.

Despite Bumrah’s stellar Test record, with 185 wickets in 42 matches at an average of 20.01, Akhtar believes that the unique demands of Test cricket could affect his career trajectory. “Very good fast bowler for shorter formats and one-dayers, because he understands the length. I think he does a great job in death overs, in powerplay and he can swing the ball both ways.”

“But you know, in Test cricket, you have to bowl longer spells. You need pace because the batters aren’t trying to hit you,” continued Akhtar. “Length becomes irrelevant. You struggle if the ball doesn’t seam or reverse along with that lack of pace. When you start struggling, then people start questioning.”

However, Akhtar pointed out the differences between limited-overs formats and Tests, stating: “In Test cricket, you have to bowl longer spells. Pace becomes critical because batters aren’t looking to hit you. When the ball doesn’t seam or reverse, and if you lack pace, it can become a struggle. This can lead to questions about performance.”

Akhtar also acknowledged Bumrah’s fitness challenges, which have been a recurring concern in his career. He warned that the physical toll of maintaining high pace in Test cricket could lead to injuries. “I think he is good enough to take wickets in Test cricket. Although he didn’t do much in the Test series against New Zealand, it happens,” said Akhtar. “But if he wants to continue playing Test cricket, he has to increase the pace. With the injection of increasing pace, he has a high risk of getting injured. If I was him, I would have stuck to shorter formats.”

“It only depends on how I feel. If I’m feeling good, okay, I’ll go out there, I’ll bend my back, make sure I take wickets for the team in Test matches. That is fine with me but he has to look after himself, because he wants to play the IPL, he wants to play ODIs, he wants to play Test matches as well,” said Akhtar.

The former Pakistani speedster also praised Bumrah’s contribution to the game, calling him “a great asset for world cricket.” Akhtar added, “We need to ensure we protect players like Bumrah and don’t overburden them, which could lead to burnout or injury.”

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