Jasprit Bumrah showcased his finest Test bowling performance in India, securing six wickets against England on the second day of the ongoing second Test match. This remarkable feat not only marked his personal best with figures of six for 45 but also propelled him to a total of 152 wickets in Tests, making him the fastest Indian pacer to achieve this milestone.
At 30 years old, Bumrah boasts an impressive record of 152 wickets in just 34 Test matches, maintaining an outstanding bowling average of 20.28 and achieving 10 five-wicket hauls. His journey to 150 wickets at the Vizag Test not only solidified his place in history but also positioned him with the best bowling average in Test cricket in the last 110 years.
Surpassing the legendary West Indies pace trio of Malcolm Marshal, Joel Garner, and Curtly Ambrose, Bumrah now holds the second-best bowling average in Test cricket history for players with 150 wickets, and the best in the last 110 years. Only England’s Sydney Barnes, who played from 1901 to 1914, maintains a lower average at 16.43.
The list of players with the best bowling average after 150 Test wickets features Bumrah in second place:
- Sydney Barnes (England) – 16.43
- Jasprit Bumrah (India) – 20.28
- Alan Davidson (Australia) – 20.53
- Malcolm Marshal (West Indies) – 20.94
- Joel Garner (West Indies) – 20.97
- Curtly Ambrose (West Indies) – 20.99
Meanwhile, Bumrah, along with spinner Kuldeep Yadav, played a pivotal role in ending England’s first innings at 253. Opener Zak Crawley led with 76 runs, and captain Ben Stokes contributed a quick 47. India, in their second innings, avoided losing wickets, reaching a score of 28 in five overs, extending their lead to 171 runs at the close of play on Day 2 at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium.