Former Windies speedster Ian Bishop says pacers Varun Aaron & Umesh Yadav prove that India can produce the much-needed quality fast bowlers

In terms of success, there was not much that either Ishant Sharma or Varun Aaron could boast of on Day One of the third Test against the West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium here yesterday. But one thing was rare on the day as far Indian pacers are concerned -- the sheer pace generated. Both Ishant and Aaron consistently bowled over 140kmph in the first spell and continued to do so thereafter. The young Aaron even went on to unleash several deliveries that were well over the 144kmph mark, with Sharma not lagging behind either.


Debutant Varun Aaron on Day One of the third Test against West Indies
at the Wankhede yesterday. Pic/suresh kk

Heart out
Sharma bowled his heart out yesterday, but with little success. Though the two wickets went to off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, there was not let-up from the pace department nevertheless. It's no wonder then that the Indian bowlers have earned praise from former West Indian pace luminary Ian Bishop. "It's very good to see Indian bowlers bowling in excess of 140kmph ufffd that's fascinating," Bishop, now a commentator, told MiD DAY yesterday.


Ian Bishop

Bishop agreed that these bowlers have ushered in a new era in Indian cricket. "It's good to see they (Yadav and Aaron) are ushering in a new sense of self-belief in Indian cricket. People can now see that Indians can produce fast bowlers and take it from me, fast bowlers are needed," Bishop said.

On whether there's any particular method to groom fast bowlers, the 44-year-old said: "Coaching systems need to be altered. Instead of producing just batsmen, spinners and line-and-length bowlers, coaches should concentrate on grooming sheer fast bowlers to instill fear in the opposition."