Here’s an interesting quiz question on Test cricket. How many bowlers have taken 200 or more than 200 Test scalps with a bowling average of under 20? The reply to that question would be none so far. However, everything could change if Jasprit Bumrah continues to pick his next few wickets at regular intervals. Before the start of the MCG Test, Bumrah had 194 wickets to his name at an astounding average of 19.52. He added three more scalps to his tally, on Day 1 of the MCG Test, and is now just three short of the milestone.
It doesn’t just talk about the pace bowler’s greatness, but somewhere it also gives us a clue that Bumrah must be at the peak of his prowess. This year alone, he has plucked 65 wickets at a mind-numbing strike rate of 30.43 and at an average of 15.26. Even in the ongoing Australia versus India Test series, Bumrah is averaging around 13 for his 24 wickets. Even if we consider the fact that the conditions in Australia have been quite tricky for batting, his numbers are unheard of. He also has had to do some heavy-lifting, with most of his bowling colleagues underperforming.
So, what exactly is the secret behind his stunning numbers? Is he some sorcerer who can hypnotise the batter with magic? Yes, there is magic in his bowling, but it is more related to being blessed with a generous portion of gifts. There is a certain amount of intrigue surrounding his hyperextension: Bumrah’s release point is about 34 centimeters ahead of the popping crease. And that is supplemented by his unique action, making it rather difficult for the batter to pick the length early enough.
Bumrah’s bowling, however, is a lot more than just hyperextension. The magic is also in his wrist. He snaps the wrist straight down when it comes to keeping the seam upright. We could notice it during most of his spells, in the first Test, in Perth, where he was finding enough swing and seam movement.
For slower ones, he snaps it sideways. To illustrate the point further, earlier in the year, he virtually turned into a spinner, in the Vizag Test, against England. And supplemented it with contrast swing to leave a slew of English batters clueless. Three years ago, he ended up employing both reverse and contrast swing over a single innings, at the Oval, in 2021.
Returning to the Border Gavaskar Trophy, Bumrah has also been India’s only bowler who has consistently forced the Australian batters into making mistakes. Basically, when needed, he has pounded the pitch, and in turn, he has hit the bat hard on impact.
The wickets of Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan McSweeny, Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Marsh, in the first innings of the Gabba Test, are all examples of Bumrah forcing the batters into making errors. Instead of enticing or tempting the batters to edge deliveries to the cordon, something that may not result in wickets in the prevailing conditions in Australia. Bumrah also is a street-smart bowler, who seems to visualise his plans at the top of his mark. More importantly, he has the necessary control to execute the different templates.
In a hypothetical sense, it almost feels as if Bumrah were to appear in exams, he would be awarded with 100 out of 100 in almost every subject. Is there is still a small chink in his bowling template? Occasionally, he may not come across as the best in the business with a new ball in hand. Although he can swing the new ball, his preferred length seems to be on the shorter side.
Even if we consider that minor flaw, Bumrah’s greatness is undeniable. He can wear different hats, according to the different situations of the game or the conditions. The bigger question is how to measure his greatness. Just numbers don’t tell the true story. Even a copy comprising 500 words doesn’t do justice to his skill set. Maybe in some fantasy land, you perhaps have to be in a Zen-like meditative state to visualise the depth of his every single offering and its likely outcome.