Comparing Jasprit Bumrah's Test record with Kapil Dev and other pace bowling legends after 41 Tests
While Team India pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been exceptional in the limited-overs formats, he is also an excellent bowler in Test cricket. On the back of his IPL exploits, the right-arm pacer made his white-ball debut for India in January 2016 and proved an instant success.
It took two years before he was handed his Test cap against South Africa in Cape Town at the start of 2018. The decision to pick Bumrah for Test cricket was met with skepticism by some experts. They believed that with his unorthodox bowling action, he would be prone to injuries and wouldn't be able to last the distance in red-ball cricket.
Bumrah, however, has proved all the detractors wrong with some sensational performances in Test cricket. In 41 Tests, he has picked up 181 wickets at an average of 20.06, with 11 five-fers. He has claimed 47 scalps in 12 home Tests at an average of 17.19 and 134 in 28 away Tests, averaging 20.38. Amazingly, he has nine five-fers in away Tests but has gone wicketless in one neutral Test.
Bumrah vs Kapil Dev and other legendary pacers
To gauge the extent of Bumrah's brilliance, we look at how Kapil Dev and some legendary pacers from other nations had fared after having played the same number of Test matches.
After having played 41 Tests, Kapil had picked up 157 wickets at an average of 29.42, with 11 five-fers. He played 25 Tests at home in which he picked up 102 scalps at an average of 26.19, with seven five-fers. In 16 away Tests, Kapil claimed 55 wickets at an average of 35.41, with four five-fers.
After 41 Test matches, former England pacer James Anderson had 140 wickets to his name at an average of 34.34, with seven five-fers. Anderson played 26 at home in which he picked up 104 wickets at an average of 29.57, with six five-fers. In away matches, he managed only 36 wickets in 15 Tests at an average of 48.11, with just one five-fer to his name.
If we look at Aussie legend Glenn McGrath's record in Test cricket after 41 matches, his stats are pretty similar to Bumrah. After 41 Tests, McGrath had 185 wickets to his name at an average of 23.56, with 11 five-fers. McGrath played 20 Tests at home, picking up 94 wickets at an average of 22.93, with five five-fers. In 21 away Tests, he claimed 91 scalps, averaging 24.20, with six five-fers.
Former South Africa speedster Dale Steyn had 211 wickets after 41 Tests. He averaged 23.13, with as many as 14 five-fers. On his first 41 Test matches, the former Proteas fast bowler played 22 at home in which he claimed 113 wickets at an average of 23.29, with seven five-fers. Also, in 19 away Tests, he picked up 98 scalps at an average of 22.94, with seven five-fers.
Sir Richard Hadlee also produced similar numbers to Bumrah after 41 Tests. The New Zealand great picked up 187 wickets at an average of 25.43, with 14 five-fers. In 24 home Tests, Hadlee claimed 116 wickets at an average of 23.18, with nine five-fers. Away from home, the Kiwi legend picked up 71 scalps in 17 matches at an average of 29.12, with five five-fers.
(Stats of Jasprit Bumrah and other legendary pacers after 41 Tests)
Former Pakistan left-arm pacer Wasim Akram had 154 wickets to his name from 41 matches at an average of 24.37, with nine five-fers. Of his scalps, 71 came at home in 19 Test matches, averaging 23.76, with three five-fers. Akram also played 22 away Tests and claimed 83 wickets at an average of 24.89, with six five-fers.
Finally, looking at West Indies legend Malcolm Marshall, the late West Indies fast bowler also had similar numbers to Bumrah after 41 Tests. Marshall claimed 193 wickets at an average of 21.84, with 13 five-fers. At home, he played 15 Tests and picked up 77 scalps, averaging 20.57, with four five-fers. In away Tests, he claimed 116 wickets in 26 games at an average of 22.68, with nine five-fers.