Jasprit Bumrah returned to Test cricket much like he had left it—leading the Indian attack and posing the biggest threat with the ball. Coming back from a stress reaction in his previously operated back, there had been serious concerns about whether he had been overbowled and how well he would recover. But at Headingley, Jasprit Bumrah quickly put those doubts to rest, once again establishing himself as the standout bowler on the field.
Jasprit Bumrah once again underlined why he is considered the best fast bowler in the world at present, producing a masterful five-wicket haul to hand India a slender edge in the opening Test against England at Headingley. Jasprit Bumrah introduced England to the best of his skills with the fifer.
Jasprit Bumrah – The lone warrior for Team India
Jasprit Bumrah once again showed why he’s the world’s premier fast bowler, delivering a sensational five-wicket haul to dismantle England’s first innings despite being let down repeatedly by his teammates on the field. Jasprit Bumrah finished with figures of 5/83, a performance dripping with quality and control, in sharp contrast to the rest of India’s pace attack. England eventually folded for 465, falling just six short of India’s total of 471, but the narrow lead was only possible because of one man.
Jasprit Bumrah was a lone warrior on Day 2, claiming all three wickets that fell as England slowly built their innings. On Day 3, he finally received some support — Prasidh Krishna picked up three wickets while Mohammed Siraj added two. However, both bowlers were inconsistent, leaking runs and allowing England to stay within striking distance of India’s formidable first-innings total.
During the Leeds Test, Jasprit Bumrah surpassed Wasim Akram to become the highest wicket-taker among Asian bowlers in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia), taking his tally to 150-four more than the legendary Pakistani pacer.
MOST FIVE-WICKET HAULS FOR INDIA AWAY FROM HOME
- Jasprit Bumrah – 12
- Kapil Dev – 12
- Anil Kumble – 10
- Ishant Sharma – 9
- R Ashwin – 8
After posting 471, India saw their advantage narrow as England responded with 465 — driven by Ollie Pope’s composed 106 and Harry Brook’s flamboyant 99. Brook, dropped multiple times, capitalised on each chance before falling short of his century while attempting a stylish finish.
With England’s tail wagging dangerously, Jasprit Bumrah returned for a decisive final spell, clean bowling Chris Woakes and then removing Josh Tongue to complete his 14th five-wicket haul in Tests. Jasprit Bumrah looked up to the sky and made a quiet gesture, and his teammates rushed to him. Former English fast bowler Steven Finn who was mighty impressed by Jasprit Bumrah’s effort showered lavish praises on this Indian bowling superstar.
English pacer Steven Finn lavishes huge praises on Jasprit Bumrah after his 5-wicket haul
Steven Finn, the former England international, has made the case for Jasprit Bumrah to be the ‘most complete fast bowler of all time’, shoulders above his counterparts like James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Kagiso Rabada, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. Finn believes his 5/83 in the first Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test at Headingley was ‘a cut above’ anything ever seen at the centuries-old venue.
Jasprit Bumrah introduced England to the best of his skills with the fifer. Jasprit Bumrah had been here before, but these five wickets, on a flat-ish track where most bowlers were getting no support, showed his true level. Jasprit Bumrah became the first Indian bowler to take three fifers in England, equalled Kapil Dev for 12 away fifers, and became the highest wicket-taking Asian bowler in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia).
“It is getting harder and harder to reject the claim that India’s Jasprit Bumrah is the most complete fast bowler of all time,” Finn wrote in his column for BBC.
“The impact he has on a match every time he bowls is remarkable and he has been a cut above anything else we have seen in the first Test at Headingley.” he added.
“Whenever Bumrah gets the ball in his hand it is box-office viewing. It feels as though something is happening every ball. He makes the bowlers at the other end look as though they are playing a different sport. He can leave the best players in the world confused about what has just happened. A whir of arms, a flick of his wrist, and the ball has hit you before you know it,” Finn said.
The ex-pacer who played 36 Tests and 69 ODIs for England went on to explain why Jasprit Bumrah’s action made him so lethal, and how his uncanny arm, wrist and release positions make him a nightmare for batters. But, he added, Bumrah was much more than just his action.
“In a climate where the disparity between the Test and T20 formats for bowlers is becoming wider and requiring a differing range of skills, Bumrah is the best in both,” Finn said.
“Bumrah is a thinker about the game and would have been India’s first choice as the new Test captain has it not been for his struggle to play in every match. He took the decision himself to not pursue the job as he did not feel it was fair on the team.”
“We’re lucky to be in an era of great fast bowlers. From recent international retirees Stuart Broad and James Anderson, to Kagiso Rabada, [Pat] Cummins, [Josh] Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. Bumrah sits atop of them all as the finest fast bowler to have played the game. Some accolade,” he added.
Jasprit Bumrah’s spell helped India take a six-run lead in the first innings. They went to Stumps on Day 3 ahead by 96 runs and down by two wickets setting up an exciting Day 4 of the test match.
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