Jasprit Bumrah Makes History Overtaking McGrath and Matching Marshall as World’s Leading Pacer
Jasprit Bumrah has made cricketing history by surpassing legendary bowlers Glenn McGrath and matching Malcolm Marshall as one of the sport’s leading pacers. This milestone was achieved during the first day of the Test series between India and South Africa at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on November 14.
Outstanding Performance at Eden Gardens
Bumrah delivered a stunning performance, claiming five wickets for just 27 runs. His impressive bowling helped dismiss South Africa for a mere 159 runs after the visitors opted to bat first. Captain Temba Bavuma’s decision backfired spectacularly.
Key Wickets
Shubman Gill’s choice to extend Bumrah’s first spell paid off. Bumrah struck early, removing South African openers Ryan Rickleton and Aiden Markram during his sixth and seventh overs. He later took the important wicket of Tony de Zorzi and finished his five-wicket haul by dismissing Simon Harmar and Keshav Maharaj.
Historic Five-Wicket Hauls
This match marked Bumrah’s fourth five-wicket haul against South Africa, placing him among the greats in cricket history. Only Sydney Barnes has achieved more during the period from 1912 to 1914, with 12 five-wicket hauls against the Proteas.
Comparative Statistics
Bumrah has now accomplished four five-wicket hauls against Australia, England, and South Africa. He is the first bowler to achieve this feat. Below are the details of pacers with significant five-wicket hauls:
| Player | Five-Wicket Hauls vs Australia | Five-Wicket Hauls vs England | Five-Wicket Hauls vs South Africa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney Barnes (England) | 12 | N/A | 12 |
| Richard Hadlee (New Zealand) | 14 | N/A | 8 |
| Jasprit Bumrah (India) | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Curtly Ambrose (West Indies) | 8 | 8 | 2 |
| Courtney Walsh (West Indies) | 4 | 5 | 2 |
Leading Among Asian Bowlers
Bumrah now holds the record for the most five-wicket hauls by an Asian pacer against these three major teams. He has equaled Malcolm Marshall’s count of 13 five-wicket hauls, surpassing Glenn McGrath’s tally of 12.
Overall Accomplishments
- This was Bumrah’s 16th five-wicket haul, tying him for the fifth-most among Indian cricketers, alongside B. S. Chandrasekhar.
- Kapil Dev leads with 23 five-wicket hauls among Indian pacers.
- In the World Test Championship (WTC), Bumrah has 13 five-wicket hauls, extending his lead over Ravichandran Ashwin, who has 11.
Jasprit Bumrah’s latest achievements further solidify his reputation as one of the premier fast bowlers in cricket, matching legends and setting records in remarkable fashion.
