ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting praises Jasprit Bumrah’s historic 32-wicket performance in Australia, calling it one of the finest fast-bowling exhibitions of all time.
Sydney [Australia], January 5: Legendary Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting has lavished praise on Jasprit Bumrah, calling his performance in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy the “best fast-bowling display ever seen by a visiting bowler in Australia.”
Bumrah, who spearheaded India’s bowling attack throughout the five-match series, ended with an astounding 32 wickets, setting a new benchmark for visiting pacers in Australia. He also surpassed Kapil Dev’s record for the most Test wickets by an Indian in Australia, finishing with 64 wickets at an average of 17.15, compared to Kapil’s 51 wickets at 24.58.
“No doubt, it’s probably the best series of fast bowling I’ve ever seen. He made batting look so much harder for even the most established Australian top-order batters. The conditions were helpful at times, but Bumrah’s skill and precision stood out,” Ponting said, as quoted by the ICC.
Despite not being able to bowl in the final innings at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) due to back spasms, Bumrah’s influence throughout the series was undeniable.
“Little frustrating but sometimes you have to respect your body, you can’t fight your body. Disappointing, probably missed out on the spiciest wicket of the series,” Bumrah expressed after the match.
A Series to Remember
Bumrah’s contributions were crucial in keeping India competitive throughout the series. His standout moments included a commanding performance in Perth, where he led India to a memorable victory.
In the final Test at Sydney, India managed to gain a narrow lead in the first innings after bowling Australia out for 181 runs, with contributions from Prasidh Krishna (3/42) and Mohammed Siraj (3/51). However, Australia bounced back with Scott Boland’s lethal spell (6/45), restricting India to 157 in their second innings.
While chasing a target of 162 runs, Australia overcame early pressure with significant knocks from Usman Khawaja (41), *Travis Head (34), and *Beau Webster (39), securing a six-wicket victory and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Bumrah: Player of the Series
Despite India’s 3-1 series defeat, Jasprit Bumrah was deservingly awarded the ‘Player of the Series’ for his 32 wickets and relentless performance.
Ponting’s glowing endorsement serves as a testament to Bumrah’s remarkable ability to adapt, dominate, and deliver in challenging overseas conditions, solidifying his legacy as one of India’s greatest fast bowlers.
