Former England captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain have both lauded Jasprit Bumrah for his match-winning performance in India’s remarkable 295-run victory over Australia in the Perth Test during the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Bumrah’s exceptional bowling, which included a devastating 5-wicket haul in the first innings and another 3 wickets in the second, earned him the Player of the Match award. His dominant spell played a key role in India’s convincing victory, where his pace and precision were crucial in dismantling the Australian batting lineup.
Atherton, speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, described Bumrah as “absolutely fantastic” and expressed a sense of relief that he never had to face the Indian pacer during his own playing days. He commended Bumrah for his unique and unorthodox bowling action, noting that the pacer’s ability to bowl from a short run-up and generate pace and accuracy would have posed a significant challenge to any batsman. Atherton highlighted the discomfort faced by batters when trying to counter Bumrah's deliveries, especially given the bowler’s knack for bowling “thunderbolts” that consistently hit the mark with clinical precision. “How would you play him?” Atherton mused, emphasizing that Bumrah’s unconventional approach would have made him an absolute nightmare to face for any batter, even those with the most solid technique.
What makes Bumrah even more lethal, according to Atherton, is his unique bowling action, where he releases the ball well in front of himself, making it difficult for the batsman to judge the trajectory. “He steals a yard with his delivery,” said Atherton, emphasizing how the combination of Bumrah’s unpredictable run-up and his ability to generate extreme pace makes him an intimidating force. Atherton compared him to some of the toughest bowlers from his time and concluded that Bumrah's aggressive yet measured style would make him an extremely tough opponent.
On the other hand, Nasser Hussain, also praising Bumrah’s brilliance, stated that he would have been “sweating” if he had been tasked with facing the Indian pacer. Hussain, who was surprised that Bumrah hadn’t been receiving more attention before the series, expressed admiration for the pacer’s consistent excellence over time. He was especially taken aback by the fact that leading up to the match, much of the focus had been on the absence of big names like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from India’s lineup, with little emphasis on Bumrah. “I was thinking before the game, actually, he was doing the press conference. I was watching all the focus had been on Kohli and Rohit Sharma not being there, and the balance of the Indian side and Steve Smith," Hussain remarked. “Would they get runs? These great players, I thought they don't talk about Bumrah,” he continued, recognizing that despite Bumrah’s remarkable career stats, including an outstanding average under 20, he hadn’t been discussed as much as other key players in the build-up to the Test.
Hussain further added that he would have been very wary of Bumrah’s pace and variety of deliveries. “My triggers would have been, as he's stuttering away, I'm thinking, 'shall I move? Shall I not move?' And then he has that slow ball. He has the yorker and the bouncer,” Hussain said, acknowledging that Bumrah’s skill set makes him incredibly difficult to face. “Bumrah’s stats are up there with the best,” Hussain asserted, referring to the bowler's consistency in all formats of the game. He concluded by calling Bumrah the "best all-format bowler in the world bar none," recognizing his ability to perform at the highest level in both Test, ODI, and T20 formats.
The praise for Bumrah from both Atherton and Hussain is a testament to his exceptional talent and growing stature as one of the most formidable fast bowlers in world cricket today. Bumrah’s performance in the Perth Test not only helped India secure a dominant win but also reinforced his status as a leader in the team, having captained the side during the absence of regular leaders like Kohli and Sharma. His leadership, alongside his outstanding bowling, indicates that Bumrah is more than capable of taking on the responsibility of leading India in the future.
As India and Australia now shift their focus to the second Test, which is set to begin on December 6, Bumrah’s outstanding all-round performance has set a high benchmark for future encounters in this highly competitive series. With his ability to deliver under pressure and his growing leadership qualities, Bumrah has cemented his place as one of the premier fast bowlers in modern-day cricket.
