January 8, New Delhi Following an incredible Player of the Series performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, former Australia captain Michael Clarke praised Jasprit Bumrah as the best fast bowler in all forms.
With 32 wickets at an average of 13.06 and his powerful bolwing that left Australia reeling on many times throughout the series, Bumrah was a standout performance. The pacer from India came very close to surpassing Sydney Barnes’ 1911–12 record of 34 wickets in a series by a visiting speed bowler in Australia with his 32 wickets in the series. He was unable to match or exceed the remarkable achievement, however, because to his injury sustained during the SCG Test.
“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 told ESPN’s Around the Wicket.
“I am not referring to the great fast bowlers like Glenn McGrath and Curtly Ambrose who were unable to play T20 cricket, but I believe he may be the greatest of all time if he has played all three forms. This person is a freak, regardless of the format or the circumstances, which is what makes him so wonderful, he added.
With outstanding performances—including eight wickets in Perth, a six-wicket haul at the Gabba, and a game-changing explosion at the MCG—Bumrah dominated Australia. On Day 2, with the match perfectly set, he bowled only one over after lunch at the SCG, despite dismissing Khawaja and Labuschagne early.
“In Sydney, I believe India fell short by around 20 runs. I believe India is home now that Bumrah is on the squad. Bumrah is that fantastic, in my opinion. Clarke said, “He’s so much better than the other bowlers they had in the team.”
Aaron Finch, the former captain of Australia, attributed Bumrah’s injury to the hosts’ calculated plan to wear him out. “With Jasprit Bumrah, Australia was ready to take their time. They intended to force him to bowl repeatedly, return for another period, and bowl three, four, or five more overs. Eventually, it succeeded, and they broke him. They triumphed because they played that lengthy game,” he remarked.
Bumrah’s appearance in the last innings of the SCG Test, according to Finch, may have made Australia’s chase much more difficult.
“Would Australia have won if he had bowled in the last innings in Sydney? It would have been much harder than it was, but they still manage to cross the line,” Finch remarked.