India's Jasprit Bumrah fields the ball off his own bowling during play on the day four of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne. AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake India's Jasprit Bumrah fields the ball off his own bowling during play on the day four of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne. AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake Jasprit Bumrah has been in great form in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Undermcw casino, leading India’s charge with the ball. The Indian speedster has been the best bowler of the tournament and overshadowed the performance of modern local greats like Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. Bumrah has had a terrific year in Test cricket and has been the best bowler in the world in the format. And by some distance! (More Cricket News)
We look at some of the numbers that define Bumrah’s incredible year in Test cricket.
71 – The highest wicket-taker in Tests in 2024Bumrah has been in breathtaking form with the ball in Test cricket in 2024. He has picked 71 wickets in just 13 matches. There is broad daylight between him and the number two on the list – Gus Atkinson of England who has bagged 52 wickets. Bumrah’s strike rate of 30.1 is also the best amongst all bowlers who have picked at least 25 wickets this year. His average of 14.92 places him at number two behind Josh Hazlewood who has an average of 13.6 in 2024 but played only seven Tests.
Bumrah has been brilliant at home and away in 2024. While he has picked 38 wickets in helpful conditions in Australia and South Africa at a combined average of 12.39 and strike rate of 25.7, his numbers in India have also been quite outstanding – he has bagged 33 wickets at home at an average of 17.84 and strike rate of 35.2.
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Only one fast bowler – Dale Steyn in 2008 (74 wickets) – has picked more wickets in a calendar year in this century than Bumrah!
107 bowlers in Test history have picked 50-plus wickets in a calendar year. Bumrah’s average of 14.9 places him at number 3 on that list only behind Imran Khan (average of 13.29 in 1982) & Sydney Barnes (average of 14.14 in 1912).
30 – The most wickets for an Indian pacer in an Away Test seriesBumrah has bagged a staggering 30 wickets in the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at a mind-boggling average of 12.83 and strike rate of 28.2. He has picked three fifers – one each at Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne. Only Kapil Dev – 32 wickets in 6 Tests against Pakistan in India in 1979 – had more wickets in a series for an Indian pacer. However, Bumrah has the SCG Test to go and will surely surpass the great Indian all-rounder!
Bumrah’s 30 wickets in the current series though are already the most for an Indian pace bowler in an Away series. Bishan Bedi bagged 31 wickets on India’s tour Down Under in 1977-78.
Overall, Sydney Barnes holds the record for the most wickets for a visiting pacer in a single series in Australia. He bagged 34 wickets in the 1911-12 Ashes.
5 – The most fifers in 2024Bumrah has bagged five fifers in 2024 which are the most for any bowler in the calendar year. Three of those five fifers have come in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy – in Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne! The other two came in Visakhapatnam and Cape Town. Kapil Dev is the only other Indian pacer to bag five fifers in a calendar year – he achieved the feat twice – in 1979 and 1983.
ayo slot 26.7% - The second-highest percentage of False Shots induced in 2024Bumrah has induced a false shot from the opposition batters of 26.7% of the deliveries bowled by him this year – it is the second-best such percentage after Kagiso Rabada who has a corresponding percentage pf 27.3%. Also, 12.4% of Bumrah’s deliveries have taken the edge which is the fourth-best this year after Gus Atkinson, Matt Henry and Chris Woakes who have all benefitted from playing in helpful conditions at home.
8484 – The number of deliveries for 200 Test wickets for BumrahBumrah became the fastest Indian (in terms of balls bowled) to 200 Test wickets achieving the milestone when he dismissed Travis Head in the second innings at the MCG. Bumrah reached the milestone in 8484 deliveries surpassing Mohammed Shami who had taken 9896 balls to reach the landmark. Overall, Bumrah is the fourth quickest bowler to the 200-Club after Waqar Younis (7725), Dale Steyn (7848) and Kagiso Rabada (8154). He was quicker to the milestone than the great Malcolm Marshall who took 9234 deliveries and is at number 5!
19.42 – The best bowling average in the history of Test cricketBumrah’s bowling average of 19.42 is the best ever in Test cricket history amongst all bowlers who have picked a minimum of 200 wickets! He is followed by the West Indian trinity of Malcolm Marshallmcw casino, Joel Garner and Curtly Ambrose.