Bumrah breaks Wasim Akram’s 24-year-old record

At 22 yards, all the bowlers are on one side, and Jasprit Bumrah is on the opposite side. This is a comment that the Indian star pacer has heard before. In the ongoing Test at Headingley, England, something similar came from the commentary box again. Former English cricketer Mark Butcher said after watching Bumrah’s bowling, “It feels like I’m watching a completely different kind of cricket.” Bumrah, who has caught the eye even on the day of his two centuries, has broken a 24-year-old record set by Wasim Akram.

Yesterday (Saturday) was the second day of the Headingley Test. India, who had scored two centuries the previous day, saw another magic figure with the bat of Rishabh Pant. That is, Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (101), captain Shubman Gill (147) and vice-captain Pant (134) scored centuries in one innings. England’s trusted name Ollie Pope, who batted consistently in white, scored another century on the second day. Bumrah is also the center of discussion on the day of two centuries.

Apart from bringing the team a breakthrough, this Indian pacer is unmatched in putting great pressure on the batters. Bumrah has taken all three wickets that the English have lost so far. England are batting in the first innings after India scored 471 runs. At the end of the second day, their total is 209 runs for 3 wickets. Even though opener Ben Duckett was dismissed for 62 runs, Ollie Pope is still unbeaten on 100 runs. The other bowlers were seen struggling on the Headingley pitch for almost a day and a half, although India’s last 7 wickets fell for just 41 runs.

But Bumrah created that momentum in the very first over of the innings. In his sixth delivery, he returned English opener Jack Crowley. The ball was running towards the leg stump, Crowley touched the bat with a trick but was caught by slipman at the edge. Bumrah could then have got the wicket of Ben Duckett, who had scored a half-century. But the catch slipped out of Ravindra Jadeja’s grasp at backward point. Bumrah bowled Duckett again in the 29th over. Experienced English star Joe Root (28) was also his victim.

Bumrah broke a 24-year-old record of Pakistani legend Wasim Akram by taking three wickets. The four superpowers of cricket outside Asia (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) are called ‘Army’ by their initials. Wasim Akram held the record for the most wickets by an Asian bowler against these four countries. Bumrah surpassed him by taking three wickets yesterday. He took 148 wickets against the Army in just 60 innings of Tests.

Highest Test wickets by Asian bowlers against an army country

• Jasprit Bumrah – 147*

• Wasim Akram – 146

• Anil Kumble – 141

• Ishant Sharma – 130

• Mohammed Shami – 123