Bumrah gets to 200 wickets with the best average in Test cricket
No bowler before Jasprit Bumrah has got to 200 wickets with an average of less than 20
Shubh Agarwal29-Dec-2024For a bowler whose Test career is laden with breathtaking dismissals, Jasprit Bumrah’s 200th wicket was relatively tame – Travis Head flicking straight to midwicket. Bumrah, however, got to the landmark with incredible numbers, reiterating his status as one of the greatest bowlers.Of the 85 bowlers to have taken 200-plus Test wickets, 12 got there in fewer games than Bumrah, who was playing his 44th Test at the MCG.
In terms of bowling average, though, Bumrah is right on top of the list with 19.56 per wicket – he’s the first bowler to concede fewer than 4000 runs for his first 200 wickets.ESPNcricinfo LtdBumrah’s strike rate of 42.4 – a wicket every seven overs – is only behind Waqar Younis, Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada, all masters with both new and old ball.ESPNcricinfo LtdBumrah’s record in South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia also stands out. He has the highest percentage of wickets for an Indian fast bowler in these nations.
Sixty-four of Bumrah’s first 200 wickets were of top three batters. He has dismissed openers 50 times (25%) and the number three 14 times (7%). Number four is often the most reputed batter in the team and Bumrah has dismissed the No. 4 30 times (15%). Bumrah’s percentage of top-four wickets (47%) is the seventh best overall and the best for India.
Among all batters, Bumrah has dismissed Joe Root most often (nine dismissals). Cummins comes second with eight, followed by Travis Head (six) whom Bumrah dismissed twice in the MCG Test.Bumrah’s excellence in all formats has meant India have had to manage his workload. Since his debut in 2018, he has missed 18 out of 30 home Tests due to injuries or workload management, but only eight away Tests, mainly due to injury. As a result, 153 of his first 200 Test wickets have come away from home. His bowling average at home is better than his away numbers, which are also astonishing.
India’s aim to keep Bumrah fit for high-profile games has meant more matches for him against Australia and England, two nations against whom he has the most wickets. The one team he has struggled against is New Zealand: an average of 45.44 against them with just nine wickets from five Tests.
Bumrah averages a breathtaking 14.4 for his 110 wickets in 20 Test wins for India. The next three Indian bowlers on this list with a minimum of 100 wickets are all spinners – Anil Kumble (18.75), R Ashwin (18.99) and Ravindra Jadeja (19.65).