"Thank goodness I did not face him with a new ball" - Michael Atherton on Jasprit Bumrah after pacer's heroics in BGT 2024/25 1st Test

Former England opener Michael Atherton has said he is relieved not to face Jasprit Bumrah's new-ball bowling. The ex-England captain believes the right-arm speedster looks unplayable, labeling him as a nightmare for batters around the globe.

Bumrah stamped his class as one of the best new-ball bowlers with a deadly spell of bowling against Australia in the opening Test in Perth. The right-arm speedster picked up five wickets in the first innings, followed by three in the second as the tourists emerged victorious by 295 runs to take a 1-0 series lead.

Speaking on the Sky Sports Podcast (via Indian Express), Atherton recalled how Bumrah takes a run-up from only 10 yards and pitches the ball in lightning-fast speeds. He said:

"I thought Jasprit Bumrah was absolutely fantastic. Those two new ball spells. I mean, there’s a few bowlers when you retire, you don’t really think about, you know, your time as a player, but there’s the odd bowler that I just think, thank goodness I did not face him with a new ball. I mean, how would you play him?

"He’s like a nightmare, isn’t he? He stutters away from off about 10 yards and then unleashes these thunderbolts, usually bang on a sixpence."

Bumrah had broken the back of Australia's batting on Day 1 despite Team India getting bowled out for 150 and helped his side salvage a lead of 46. With conditions eased out from Day 2, India batted big and set a 534-run target to eventually win by 295 runs.

"Australia can’t have been beaten like that" - Michael Atherton

Atherton also acknowledged his surprise to see Australia losing so meekly at home and observed how the change in conditions altered the complexion of the game. The 56-year-old added:

"Australia can’t have been beaten like that, that heavily and that badly at home for a long time. That was a real shellacking. But what struck me, a brilliant Test cricket to watch.

"And I love the fact that you had that contrast from day one where 17 wickets fell and it looked a real struggle and you can see two quality attacks there. And then, of course, it changed in nature and became much tougher for the bowlers."

Australia and India will move to Adelaide for the second Test, beginning on December 6.