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Bumrah dismissed five Aussie batters for 30 runs in the first innings of the Perth Test, which was played from November 22 to 25, and got rid of three in the second.
Ricky Ponting praises Jasprit Bumrah’s performance in 1st Test against Australia. (Picture Credit: X/@BCCI, AFP)
Former Australian captain and star batter Ricky Ponting was full of praise for Jasprit Bumrah after the world No. 1 Test bowler produced a super show with the ball in the first Test of the ongoing five-match series between India and Australia. In the series opener played at Optus Stadium in Perth last month, Bumrah dismissed five Aussie batters for 30 runs in the first innings and got rid of three more in the second. Thanks to his brilliant performance, India managed to get the better of the Pat Cummins-led side by 295 runs inside four days and go 1-0 up in the ongoing series.
Impressed by Bumrah’s bowling, Ponting, who has now donned the hat of an expert and commentator, said the 30-year-old Indian star is the best fast bowler in the world across formats.
“It was so important for the captain to stand up. I think he showed everyone why he’s clearly the best fast bowler in the world in all formats of the game,” Ponting said in the latest episode of ICC Review.
“What he (Bumrah) did there (Perth), not only in the first innings but for that entire game—his pace, his consistency, his ability to move the ball, his ability to continually challenge the stumps and hit the stumps—was the difference between him and everyone else that bowled in that game,” Ponting added.
According to Ponting, who has worked with Bumrah during his time as Mumbai Indians head coach in the IPL, Bumrah is India’s greatest fast bowler.
“I think he’s definitely India’s greatest fast bowler. A lot of the greats before him didn’t play all three formats as much as he has. I can put my hand up and ask people to sit back and watch and say that in T20 cricket, one-day cricket, and Test match cricket, he’s clearly the best right now.”
“It’s not all about wickets. It’s about performing at a high level for a long period of time. We saw the other day when he gets the right conditions just how good he can be. If he keeps going the way that he is, then there’ll be a lot of people saying what Glenn Maxwell said, I’m sure,” he added.
