December 15, 2024: Jasprit Bumrah has been nothing short of a nightmare for Australia’s opening duo, Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeney, in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). The Indian fast bowler has continued to assert his dominance, leaving a trail of frustrated Australian batsmen in his wake. His relentless attack on the openers has been a recurring theme throughout the series, and even the fortress of The Gabba couldn’t provide any respite for the Australian pair on Sunday.
Over the course of the three Tests, the Australian openers have consistently struggled to counter Bumrah’s pace and swing, with both Khawaja and McSweeney finding themselves trapped in a web of pressure. The statistics from the series tell a clear story of Bumrah’s stranglehold on the Australian top order: in 121 deliveries faced by the opening duo, they have managed a meager 30 runs, averaging just 4.28 while facing Bumrah. In comparison, Bumrah has dismissed them seven times, a testament to his ability to exploit their vulnerabilities.
Nathan McSweeney, in particular, has been Bumrah’s favorite victim. The 25-year-old has endured a tough series, managing only 12 runs off 52 deliveries against the Indian pacer, with four dismissals in five innings. His struggle against Bumrah has been well-documented, and his inability to counter the seamer’s probing deliveries has made him one of Bumrah’s prime targets.
On the third Test’s opening day in Brisbane, Bumrah wasted no time in making his mark. After a rain-affected morning session, Bumrah got into his stride and quickly made an impact. He sent Usman Khawaja back to the pavilion for 21, forcing an edge that was comfortably caught in the slip cordon. But the damage didn’t stop there. In his very next over, Bumrah dismissed McSweeney, who failed to cover his line during a backfoot defense, edging the ball to Virat Kohli at second slip.
With those two quick wickets, India had made an early inroad, and the Australian top order was under pressure. Steven Smith and Travis Head had to work hard to steady the ship after the early blows. But the writing was on the wall for the Australians: Bumrah’s accuracy, pace, and swing were too much for the openers to handle.
Bumrah’s continued brilliance with the ball, especially in combination with Akash Deep, has shown that the Australian openers’ struggles aren’t just a one-off. India’s pace attack has been relentless, and with Bumrah leading the charge, the Aussies have found themselves constantly under the cosh.
As the series progresses, Australia’s openers will need to find a way to counter Bumrah’s menace if they are to stand any chance of a revival. For now, though, Bumrah’s dominance over Khawaja and McSweeney has been one of the key highlights of the series, and his performances are adding to his growing legend as one of the world’s finest fast bowlers.
