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L-R: Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah in action during first ENG vs IND 1st Test and Steven Finn. (AP & X)
Former English pacer Steven Finn hailed India’s Jasprit Bumrah as “the most complete fast bowler ever.” Bumrah continued his record-breaking spree in Test after getting his 14th career five-wicket haul during the first innings of 1st Test between England and India at Headingley in Leeds on Sunday.
Finn went to social media X and wrote, “Making a case for Jasprit Bumrah as the most complete fast bowler in the history of the game. It’s hard to refute in my opinion,” while referring to his column for the BBC.
“Guys…. It’s impossible to compare eras exactly, I know that. I love fast bowling and all the greats everyone is mentioning. But, I think Bumrah is complete,” he added.
Bumrah’s five for 83 ensured England got bundled out for 465 in their first innings, handing India a slender six-run lead.
In his column, Finn wrote, “We’re lucky to be in an era of great fast bowlers. From recent international retirees Stuart Broad and James Anderson, to Kagiso Rabada, Cummins, Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.”
But the English pacers keep the Indian ace pacer above all of them. “Bumrah sits atop of them all as the finest fast bowler to have played the game. Some accolade,” he added.
He went on to heap praise for the World No. 1 Test bowler. “If I ever had the misfortune of facing Bumrah, he’d be done with me in a maximum of two deliveries. A good short ball, then a searing yorker would do the trick. I’d hold out hope he’d go straight for the second of those options as, by all accounts, it is incredibly hard to see the ball when Bumrah is bowling. He would cause a tailender like me some harm.”
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On Sunday, Bumrah also equalled Kapil Dev for the most Test five-wicket hauls (12) among Indian bowlers in away Tests. He also went on to equal R Ashwin (11 in 78 innings) for the most five-fors in the World Test Championship in only 67 innings.
Speaking on Bumrah’s bowling acumen, Finn wrote, “Bumrah is a thinker about the game and would have been India’s first choice as the new Test captain has it not been for his struggle to play in every match. He took the decision himself to not pursue the job as he did not feel it was fair on the team.”
English (US) ·