The assertion that India’s Jasprit Bumrah is the most complete fast bowler of all time is increasingly difficult to refute.
His consistent match impact is extraordinary, exemplified by his dominant performance in the Headingley Test. Bumrah’s 5-83 in England’s first innings, despite three dropped catches and a no-ball, underscores his exceptional skill.
Watching Bumrah bowl is captivating; every delivery feels significant, making opposing bowlers appear to play a different game altogether.
He leaves even the world’s best batsmen bewildered. A blur of motion, a wrist flick, and the ball connects before they react.
Facing Bumrah, I suspect, would result in dismissal within two balls at most: a well-directed bouncer followed by a searing yorker. I’d hope for the yorker, as seeing the ball against him is reportedly incredibly challenging, especially for a lower-order batsman like myself.
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Batsmen often describe bowlers with unconventional actions as “hard to pick up.” The ability to conceal the ball’s trajectory until the last moment is incredibly challenging to face.
Bumrah’s unique action begins with a distinctive load-up. Imagine a clock face; from behind, his straightened arm points to the two. His arm then descends rapidly, but during delivery, his elbow hyper-extends, contributing to his pace. The ball momentarily disappears behind his elbow, obscuring it from the batsman’s view.
His forearm then catches up, his wrist cocks, and the delivery is unleashed—like a catapult. At the last second, the ball reappears, hurtling towards the batsman at approximately 90 mph.
Another advantage is his release point. He releases the ball closer to the batsman than any other fast bowler.
From the side, most fast bowlers release the ball directly above their front foot. Bumrah, however, releases it approximately 40cm ahead, significantly reducing the batsman’s reaction time.
His approach to the crease is deceptive; short, choppy steps lacking fluidity. Nothing suggests the remarkable speed he generates.
Hours of footage wouldn’t fully prepare a batsman. There’s no tell—no arm movement or finger position change. The batsman must react purely to the ball’s trajectory.
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Indian Bowlers Adapting to the Pitch – Bumrah
Another descriptor is “beyond the perpendicular.” Using the clock face again, an over-the-top action points to 12; round-arm to one or two. A bowler beyond the perpendicular (around 11) creates an angle that feels more inward to a right-hander, inducing shots they might otherwise avoid.
Bumrah’s success against Joe Root exemplifies this; he’s dismissed him ten times in Test cricket—only Australia’s Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have dismissed Root more often.
Bumrah frequently induces Root to push at balls wide of off-stump, as seen in this Test, the ball angling in and moving away at the last moment, a pattern mirrored in their 2021 encounters.
Beyond technique, Bumrah’s consistent match impact is unprecedented. He’s a strategic bowler, constantly adjusting to the situation with remarkable precision.
His versatility is striking. Among major nation pace bowlers with at least 500 T20I deliveries, Bumrah’s economy rate of 6.27 is unmatched. Simultaneously, he boasts the best Test bowling average (19.33) among bowlers with at least 200 wickets, far surpassing West Indies legend Malcolm Marshall (20.94).
Furthermore, only bowlers with over 100 wickets and a lower average than Bumrah played before World War I.
In an era of increasing divergence between Test and T20 bowling demands, Bumrah excels in both.
Bumrah’s strategic thinking made him a natural choice for India’s Test captaincy, but injury concerns led him to decline the role, prioritizing the team’s needs.
This is a golden age of fast bowling, featuring recent retirees like Stuart Broad and James Anderson, alongside Kagiso Rabada, Cummins, Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc. Yet, Bumrah stands above them all as the greatest fast bowler ever.
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‘Bowled Him!’ – Bumrah Dismisses Woakes for 38
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