MELBOURNE, Dec 29: Pace leader Jasprit Bumrah achieved a remarkable milestone on Sunday, becoming the second fastest Indian, alongside Ravindra Jadeja, to reach 200 Test wickets. Notably, he stands as the first bowler to do so with an average below 20, during the fourth day’s play of the fourth Test against Australia.
Bumrah claimed his 200th wicket by dismissing Travis Head (1) in the post-lunch session, joining Jadeja among those who have reached this milestone the quickest in Tests.
Both Bumrah and Jadeja accomplished this remarkable feat in their 44th Test match, making Bumrah the 12th Indian bowler overall to hit this milestone.
Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin holds the record for the quickest Indian to achieve 200 wickets, a milestone he reached in just 37 Tests.
Among bowlers with over 200 wickets in Test cricket, Bumrah is unique with an average under 20, surpassing renowned fast bowlers like Malcolm Marshall (376 wickets at 20.94), Joel Garner (259 wickets at 20), Curtly Ambrose (405 wickets at 20.99), England’s James Anderson (704 wickets at 26.45), and Glenn McGrath (563 wickets at 21.64).
Ashwin ranks third on the speed list for bowlers reaching 200 Test wickets, following two leg-spinners: Pakistan’s Yasir Shah (33 Tests) and Australia’s Clarrie Grimmett (36 Tests).
Bumrah’s wicket tally in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy now stands at 28 after he dismissed Mitchell Marsh (0) caught behind, following the dismissal of Head. Earlier, he had also taken the wicket of opener Sam Konstas (8) during Australia’s second innings. (Agencies)
