FATE IN HANDS OF STARS

THE most crucial battle that could decide the summer wasn’t forged in heated encounters at the SCG or Eden Gardens — but honed in the backyards of Ahmedabad and Alfords Point.

In proof that weird can be beautiful in the world of cricket, the two most important stars of the show will revolve around the homespun techniques of shuffling Steve Smith and the owner of world cricket’s most unconventional action, India’s Jasprit Bumrah.

With Virat Kohli flying home for the birth of his first child after the Adelaide Test, Bumrah, pictured — the devastating fast bowler who was among India’s finest on their historic triumph in Australia two years ago — becomes the tourists’ most feared competitor.

When Smith was trying to break into the Australian team, there were dissenting coaches who questioned whether his awkward fidgety style would ever hold up to the rigours of Test cricket.

Bumrah, too, encountered roadblocks in his development as he endured negative talk about his unorthodox style.

Everything he knows about bowling has been self- taught, down to his eight- step run- up which was a necessity playing in the communal area of his family’s apartment complex.

To shut Bumrah down is to shut India down, according to Smith — whose wicket will carry similar weight within the rival dressing room.

“He’s got a pretty wide skill set and he’s competitive. He obviously had an amazing summer in Australia when they were out here last and I think if we keep him quiet, that’ll take us a long way to winning the series.”