Jasprit Bumrah's remarkable performance in the first Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test against England at Headingley has drawn high praise from former England cricketer Mark Butcher, who hailed the Indian fast bowler as an "absolute champion." Bumrah's fiery spell, which resulted in a five-wicket haul, played a crucial role in giving India a slender first-innings lead.
Butcher, commentating on Sky Sports Cricket during the tea break, was effusive in his praise. "Bumrah has been utterly outstanding. Irresistible fast bowling. He is an absolute champion," he stated, capturing the sentiment of many who witnessed Bumrah's brilliance on the field.
Bumrah's performance at Headingley marked his 14th five-wicket haul in Test cricket and his third in England. In addition to this, he equalled Kapil Dev’s record for the most five-wicket hauls for India in away Tests, with 12 such performances.
Stuart Broad, another former England bowler, also acknowledged Bumrah's impact, noting the drama and quality he brought to the game. "Bumrah has moved the ball more than anyone else, brought drama, bowled jaffas and deserves the fine applause he received from this crowd," Broad said. However, he also questioned whether Bumrah should have been introduced into the attack earlier.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes the Test match is finely poised. "Game on – and at some pace. Over 900 runs have been scored and we still have a session to go on day three," Shastri said, highlighting the high-scoring nature of the match and the opportunities it presents for both teams. Shastri also lauded Harry Brook for his impressive innings of 99, praising his audacious approach to batting.
Adding to the chorus of accolades, legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has declared Jasprit Bumrah as the best bowler of the modern era. Gavaskar emphasized Bumrah's ability to take wickets with both the new and old ball, a rare quality that sets him apart. "In the modern era, without a question he's the greatest, he's the best, no question. Because it's not just the new ball, it's with the old ball also, he picks wickets," Gavaskar stated. He further elaborated on Bumrah's versatility, noting his ability to move the ball both ways, bowl slower yorkers, and deliver effective bouncers.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan pointed out the palpable sense of survival when Bumrah was bowling. "Every time Jasprit Bumrah had the ball in his hand, you just knew as an England side, they were just trying to survive... he bowls balls that you can't really prepare for," Vaughan said.
With this five-wicket haul, Bumrah also surpassed Pakistan's Wasim Akram for the most wickets by an Asian bowler in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) countries, reaching a total of 150 wickets.
While Bumrah's performance was exceptional, the Indian team's fielding was less impressive, with several catches being dropped. Despite Jasprit Bumrah's stellar performance, Sanjay Manjrekar gave a "best" compliment to another Indian pacer, though the specific pacer was not named in the provided context.
As the Test match progresses, India will be looking to capitalize on Bumrah's form and build on their lead. The game remains intriguingly poised, with both teams having opportunities to seize the advantage.
