Jeff Thomson feels Shardul Thakur can pick wickets on flat pitches

Considered as one of the fastest ever bowlers to play Test cricket, Jeff Thomson was a constant threat to batsmen during his playing days. After more than three decades from his retirement, the former Australian pacer still remains straight forward like his lethal bouncers. In a recent interview with Cricbuzz, he praised 24-year-old Indian fast bowler Shardul Thakur.

Shardul, who was recently selected in the Indian Test squad for the tour of West Indies on the back of a superb domestic season, is the only Indian pacer who has impressed Thomson in the recent past. The 65-year-old said, "Other than Shardul Thakur, I haven't seen any other bowler."

The right-arm pacer has been the highest wicket-taker for this season’s Ranji champions Mumbai, which helped him book his ticket for India’s upcoming tour of West Indies.

Shardul can bowl on flat pitches and take a lot of wickets

Thomson went on to talk in detail about the youngster. He said, "I have seen him bowl and he has been pretty impressive. He can bowl on flat pitches and take a lot of wickets and clean up teams. I am sure if he is picked in the playing XI in the West Indies, he will impress and do better than the others."

The Aussie great, who has 200 Test wickets to his name in 51 matches, is currently working as the head coach of the MCA-IDBI Federal Life Insurance Bowling Foundation and feels that the initiative has been instrumental in uplifting young fast bowling talents of India.

He said, "I take great pride and honour in being part of the MCA­ IDBI Federal Life Insurance Bowling Foundation, yet again. We have had a tremendous response from future fast bowlers of India in the previous sessions, and I'm enjoying the ongoing training session with the fast bowling talent of this season."

The Sydney-born cricketer also said that they have found some impressive young fast bowlers this year. He said, "We found a bit more talent this year than last, especially with younger kids 16 upwards which is pretty young for fast bowlers.”

You got to be a little crazy to become fast bowlers

The former pacer, who was one of the fiercest competitors of his time then added that a player has to be a little crazy to become a fast bowler. He concluded, "I can feel the difference over the last one year. They are so much fitter and faster. These kids are rookies picked from poor areas, not gifted with money. You got to be a little crazy to become fast bowlers, need to dislike batsmen and should be prepared to do the hard work in these kinds of temperatures. We have not even touched the tip of the iceberg."