Jasprit Bumrah was not just the toast of the nation back home during the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) but also hailed as a modern-day great by the Australian fans and cricket fraternity for his exploits during India’s tour Down Under. On that note, former Australian captain Micahel Clarke feels Bumrah is the “best fast bowler ever” to play all three formats of the sport.
“The thing I’ve thought about Bumrah, after the series finished and I was sitting and thinking about his performances, I actually think he’s the best fast bowler ever across all three formats,” Clarke said while talking on ESPN show ‘Around the Wicket’.
Bumrah showcased exceptional bowling prowess across the five Tests, before back spasms made him unavailable for Australia’s second innings in the last Test at Sydney.
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Before that, he secured a mammoth 32 wickets at an staggering average of 13.06 average, consistently troubling the Australian batters. It’s also a new record for an Indian bowler in a single Test series away from home.
“I know a lot of great fast bowlers — Curtly Ambrose, Glenn McGrath — didn’t get to play T20 cricket. So I’m not talking about those guys, but in regards to anyone who has played all three formats, I think he might be the best ever. He’s actually that good in any conditions, that’s what makes him great; any conditions, any format, this guy’s a freak,” he said.
He bowled three five-wicket spells during his record show in the recently-concluded Border Gavaskar Trophy. However, it couldn’t prevent a series loss for India.
Australia won 3-1 to reclaim the BGT for the first time in the last 10 years.
“I reckon India were probably 20 runs short (in Sydney). With Bumrah in the team, I think India are home. I think Bumrah is that good…he’s so much better than the other bowlers they had in the team,” Clarke added.
Another former Australia captain, Aaron Finch, said the home team’s smart ploy ensured that Bumrah got overburdened as the series progressed.
“Australia were prepared to play the long game with Jasprit Bumrah. They wanted to make him bowl over and over and over, make him come back for one more spell, bowl another three, four, five (more) overs and in the end, it worked, they broke him in the end. They played that long game, they won,” said Finch.
