Jasprit Bumrah (L0; Kapil Dev.
Credit: Reuters, PTI Photos
Jasprit Bumrah delivered another bowling masterclass to cement his status as the world's undisputed premier bowler, architecting England's collapse on Friday at the Lord's Cricket Ground. His stunning spell of 5-74 was the singular force that halted the hosts at 387, and in the process, etched his name onto the iconic honours board at the 'home of cricket'.
Bumrah's fifer, in which he sent Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Chris Woakes, and Jofra Archer back to the pavilion, besides being a match-defining performance, also showcased why he is the most feared bowler in Test cricket today. This was his second five-for in the series after the one in the first Test at Leeds.
This was Bumrah’s 16th five-wicket haul in Test cricket, but its true significance lies in the historical context. It was his 13th away from home, and with this spell, the 31-year-old rewrote a 34-year-old record, surpassing the legendary Kapil Dev (12) for the most five-fors by an Indian bowler in away conditions.
Bumrah's performance did more than just break national records; it elevated him into the pantheon of Asian and global fast-bowling greats. He now stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Wasim Akram for the most five-wicket hauls by an Asian bowler in SENA countries (11) and equalled Imran Khan for five-fors away from home by an Asian pacer.
In fact, among all fast bowlers in history, only an elite group of six—Richard Hadlee, Glenn McGrath, Wasim Akram, Sydney Barnes, Malcolm Marshall, and Courtney Walsh—have taken more five-wicket hauls in away Tests.
His dominance in English conditions is particularly stark. This was Bumrah's fourth five-for in England—a feat no other Indian bowler has managed more than twice.