India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah created history on Wednesday, January 1. In the latest ICC Test Rankings, Bumrah not only remained at the top of the bowler’s list but also recorded the highest-ever rating points by an Indian bowler.
The pacer reaped rewards for his sensational performances in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Bumrah has been the standout bowler in the marquee bilateral series so far, with 30 wickets from 4 matches. Bumrah’s exceptional performances however have not reflected in the results, as the hapless Indian side have lost 2 out of the first four matches of the series.
Bumrah, who is shortlisted for the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year award for the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy and also the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year award, has moved up from his previous tied high of 904 with Ravichandran Ashwin. His tally of 907 rating points now places him joint-17th in the all-time list with yesteryear spinner Derek Underwood of England.
The list is led by England seamers Sydney Barnes (932) and George Lohmann (931) who played more than a century ago while Imran Khan (922) and Muttiah Muralidaran (920) are third and fourth.
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BUMRAH FASTEST INDIAN PACER TO 200 TEST WICKETS
Playing in the Boxing Day Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Bumrah also became the fastest Indian pacer to reach the landmark of 200 wickets in Test cricket. The legendary Kapil Dev earlier held the record in 50 matches in the Test against West Indies back in March 1983 in Port of Spain.
Bumrah reached the landmark in his 44th Test, thereby also becoming the joint second-fastest Indian to 200 Test wickets along with Ravindra Jadeja. Ravi Ashwin, who retired after the Brisbane Test, stays the fastest Indian after he picked up his 200th Test wicket in his 37th Test back in September 2016 during a Test match against New Zealand in Kanpur.
Bumrah touched the 200-wicket landmark after dismissing Travis Head, who is the leading run-scorer of the series after smashing back-to-back hundreds in the Adelaide and Brisbane Tests. Overall, former Pakistani spinner Yasir Shah is the fastest to the milestone in only 33 Tests. Amongst pacers, Australia’s Dennis Lillee holds the record in 38 Test matches.
The 31-year-old Bumrah also became the fourth fastest to 200 Test wickets (by balls bowled), getting there in 8484 balls. Pakistan’s Waqar Younis (7725) holds the record, followed by South Africa’s Dale Steyn (7848) and South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada (8153).
Bumrah also reached the landmark at an average of 19.56, the lowest amongst all bowlers. Bumrah also broke Kapil Dev’s record for most wickets by an Indian pacer in a bilateral Test series on Australian soil. The speedster has been in splendid form, having troubled the Australian batters throughout.
