Jasprit Bumrah strikes at 63 with the ball between 1-10 overs while at 39.4 beyond over 36 in Tests. Does Bumrah need to bowl more from old ball?
An all-format great? Most definitely, yes. This is an epithet which rests nicely on Jasprit Bumrah, India’s premier fast bowler. Numbers prove this, so do parameters like his ability to change match scenarios, bowling technique, variations, skills and tactical nous.
Bumrah – One of the ‘three musketeers’ in Tests
Focusing solely on his Test career, the enormity of Bumrah’s greatness emerges from sheer numbers – from 37 matches and 71 innings, he has taken 164 wickets at a mind-numbing average of 20.51 and an even more staggering strike rate of 44.5.
To put things into context, only three names figure in the list of bowlers who have taken 150+ Test wickets at a sub-50 strike rate: Bumrah is one of them, of course, in the elite company of Malcolm Marshall (376 wickets at a strike rate of 46.7) and Sydney Barnes (189 wickets at a strike rate of 41.6).
Player | Match | Innings | Wkts | Avg | Eco | SR | 5W/10W |
Malcolm Marshall | 81 | 151 | 376 | 20.94 | 2.68 | 46.7 | 22/4 |
Sydney Barnes | 27 | 50 | 189 | 16.43 | 2.36 | 41.6 | 24/7 |
Jasprit Bumrah* | 38 | 72 | 164 | 20.63 | 2.75 | 44.8 | 10/0 |
*Stats till September 26, 2024
One might say that there is still a long way to go for Bumrah and he needs to expand his body of work to be placed in the pantheon of all-time greats. But he is doing nothing wrong in his pursuit and it might just be a matter of time before he ascends to the pinnacle.
Bumrah with the old ball – A completely different beast
Is there a way Jasprit Bumrah could be even more effective? Apparently yes! If he bowls more with the older ball.
If one peruses his Test numbers at a closer level, there is a slight anomaly. When Bumrah takes the new ball and bowls in overs 1-10, his average is 28.5 and strike rate stands at 63.
Bumrah's numbers when he bowls in overs 1-10 in Tests:
Innings | Overs | Runs | Wkts | Eco | Avg | SR | 5W | Dot% |
70 | 283.4 | 770 | 27 | 2.71 | 28.5 | 63 | 0 | 81.2 |
The real Bumrah emerges out of the shadows when the ball starts reversing. Usually after 30 overs or more, the red ball loses its original shine and starts to reverse. It is then that Bumrah starts dictating terms to the batters. With his skills, he bamboozles batters in more ways than one and delivers crucial outcomes for his team. After over no. 36, Bumrah’s average improves to 19.1 and his strike rate becomes a lethal 39.4. A fair improvement over the opening spell numbers given above, and also better than his strike rate from overs 11-35 which stands at 44.6.
These numbers are the major basis for Bumrah to be used as first-change bowler rather than the opening bowler.
Bumrah's numbers when he bowls in over 36 onwards:
Innings | Overs | Runs | Wkts | Eco | Avg | SR | 5W | Dot% |
61 | 571.2 | 1658 | 87 | 2.9 | 19.1 | 39.4 | 1 | 79.1 |
Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25: Another big stage for Bumrah to shine bright
It goes without saying that Bumrah will be the key weapon for Rohit Sharma on the tour down under. While other seamers like Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and possibly Akash Deep will be in the mix, Bumrah will be the leader of the pack.
In Australia, hit-the-deck pacers create more impact with the new ball. In such a scenario, practicality dictates to open the bowling with bowlers like Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna. Not to say that Bumrah doesn't have those skills but his old ball heroics far exceed all his other capabilities.
Will it be more prudent for Rohit Sharma to open the bowling with other bowlers and use Bumrah as first change seamer and also use him more post 30 overs?
Time will tell whether we see this strategy being employed by the team management. All one could say is that numbers do not lie and if India do go with this strategy then it will work better for them.
The Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 will be played as a five-match series between India and Australia, from November 2024 to January 2025.
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