Virat Kohli’s stock in world cricket is reaching new peaks with every passing day. The star Indian cricketer, who shattered records to score 973 runs in the recently concluded IPL season, received huge praise from former Australian pacer Jeff Thomson during an event held in Mumbai.
Thomson, who terrorised batsmen across the world with his raw pace, complimented the India’s Test skipper for his aggressive approach on the field.
“I love his attitude. He is a fantastic stroke player. I would have liked to play in the same team with him as a fast bowler because he would have made me bowl faster,” said the former Aussie quick.
However, when asked what his advice to the bowlers across the world would be to tackle the Kohli threat, Thomson refused to highlight any chink in Kohli’s armour.
“I don’t want to go into that because I don’t want to be saying you should do this, you should do that,” added Thomson.
Thomson, who is in the city to train bowlers as part of Mumbai Cricket Association’s collaboration with IDBI Federal Life Insurance’s Bowling Foundation, was one of the fastest bowlers to have ever graced the sport. He was fearsome with his pace, swing and cutters and formed a lethal combination with Dennis Lillee.
However, the sling-shot bowling action with which he bowled, took a toll on his body and forced him to alter it to prolong his career.
When asked what will be his advice to the upcoming bowlers or someone like Jasprit Bumrah, Thomson made it clear that he will not change anybody’s action.
“I am not changing anybody’s action. I am not going to make them bowl like me. We just improve their action. A lot of them may have a minor problem with their action. We describe each and everything that goes wrong, fine tune that, get it right and they can see straightway that they could bowl much quicker.”
“I think the biggest thing in sport is the X factor. If we teach everybody to bowl like me, just because I could bowl quick, after a while everybody will get used to that same action. It is variety that makes the difference.
“With something different, that’s a good trick; provided you know how to control it. That’s a good weapon,” concluded the Australian Cricket Hall of Famer.
