On Friday, the Australian cricket team was bundled out for a meager total of 151 in their first innings on day three of the third Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) with the help of Jasprit Bumrah’s six for 33 orchestrating the hosts’ downfall.
In his Test debut year, the young fast bowler now has registered five-wicket hauls in South Africa, England and now, in Australia to become the first Asian bowler to take a five-for in each of the aforementioned countries in a calendar year. He also eclipsed a 39-year-old record to become the highest wicket-taker by an Indian on debut in a calendar year with 45 wickets and counting.
Dilip Doshi had owned the record in 1970 when he scalped 40 wickets in his debut Test year. Venkatesh Prasad (achieved the feat in 1996) and Narendra Hirwani (achieved the feat in 1988) occupy the third and fourth place with 37 and 36 wickets respectively.
ALSO READ: Mitchell Johnson Denies Praising Jasprit Bumrah
Bumrah now also standing high in the all-time list for the most Test wickets in the debut year. Former Australia pacer Terry Alderman (achieved the feat in 1981) and West Indies pace legend Curtly Ambrose (achieved the feat in 1988) are second in the list with 42 wickets.
Jasprit Bumrah in his Test debut year has five-wicket hauls in South Africa, in England and now in Australia!#AusvInd#AusvsInd
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) December 28, 2018
Indian bowlers with most Test wickets on debut in a calendar year
45: Jasprit Bumrah (2018) *
40: Dileep Doshi (1979)
37: Venkatest Prasad (1996)
36 Narendra Hirwani (1988)
Bumrah, who has been in phenomenal form this year across all formats, surpassed Doshi’s record, after taking three wickets on day three. He used the short ball to good effect and dismissed opener Marcus Harris for 22. He then returned to see the back of Shaun Marsh on the last ball before lunch with a beautiful slower yorker.
WATCH – Jasprit Bumrah Stunned Shaun Marsh With His Yorker
Travis Head was clean bowled with a 142kmph ripper, which swung back in late leaving Head beaten for pace. Australia captain Tim Paine and Pat Cummins were showing some grit, but Bumrah returned to break the 36-run partnership after he drew Paine with a good length delivering angling in towards off only for the batsman to edge it behind to Rishabh Pant.
Bumrah bamboozled Nathan Lyon with a mixture of pace and bounce. He followed his bouncer with a full rocket that trapped Nathan Lyon, who departed for a duck and in a similar way, he wrapped up Australia’s innings with the wicket of Josh Hazlewood, who was cleaned up for a duck to complete a fine bowling performance.
Here are some of the praise Bumrah received on Twitter:
2018 welcomed @Jaspritbumrah93 to test match cricket and if first impressions do count for anything we are seeing something pretty special. 45 wickets at just 21, with an innings to go! #AUSvIND 👊🏽👏🏽🇮🇳
— Mel Jones (@meljones_33) December 28, 2018
What an outstanding bowling effort from India and a really special effort from Jasprit Bumrah. He has been the best bowler on display across both sides by some distance and has put India in a really dominating position #AusvInd pic.twitter.com/sP3A05b4Ti
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) December 28, 2018
India's bowling average in this series is 23.94, their lowest ever for a tour of Australia. #AUSvIND
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) December 28, 2018
Jasprit Bumrah was fast-tracked in Test cricket this year. Proved to be a masterstroke. Has 45 wickets in 9 Tests with five-fers in South Africa, England and now Australia.
Currently one of the most intelligent fast bowlers in world cricket across all formats#AUSvIND— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) December 28, 2018
India have found a treasure in Jasprit Bumrah. So young and already so accomplished.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 28, 2018
Might b debatable but for me the best bowler across all formats and conditions…. Jasprit Bumrah…. You beauty 🙌🙌#AUSvIND
— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) December 28, 2018
