‘He’s Like A Nightmare’: Ex- ENG Captain Praises Jasprit Bumrah After India’s Win In 1st AUS Test – News18

Last Updated:November 27, 2024, 09:18 IST

Bumrah picked up 5 wickets for 30 runs in the first inning and 3 for 42 in the second to seal a famous win for India over Australia by 295 runs in the first Test played at Optus Stadium.

Former England captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain reserved big praise for star Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who was on fire in the first Test of the ongoing 2024-25 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The 30-year-old pacer, who was leading India in the game played at Optus Stadium in Perth, picked up five wickets in the first innings and got rid of Nathan McSweeney, Marnus Labuschagne, and Travis Head in the second inning to finish the match with figures of 8 for 72 runs in 30 overs and seal a famous win for India by 295 runs.

For his super show with the ball, Bumrah won the Player of the Match award. Atherton and Hussain were impressed with Bumrah’s show, and while praising the Indian star, Atherton during the Sky Sports Cricket podcast said that he is happy that he didn’t have to face the Indian pacer during his career.

“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,” Atherton said.

“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,” he added.

Hussain also had similar views about Bumrah and said that he was surprised when there wasn’t a lot of chatter about Bumrah in the build-up to the match, despite him doing a brilliant job for a long period of time.

According to him, the Indian Test vice captain is the best all-format bowler in the world.

“I was thinking before the game; actually, he was doing the press conference. I was watching all the sort of focus had been on (Virat) Kohli and Rohit Sharma not being there and balance of the Indian side and Steve Smith.”

“Would they get runs? These great players—I thought they don’t talk about Bumrah, and maybe it’s just being a bowler. Batters get highlighted so much more. Bumrah’s stats are up there with me. He’s popped under 20 over quite a long period of time. He’s incredible in all formats. He’s the best all-format bowler in the world bar none,” said Hussain.