On June 22, Jasprit Bumrah became first Indian pacer since current Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Roger Binny in 1986 took a five-wicket haul at Headingley, Leeds. Bumrah became only the third Indian bowler to achieve the feat. He would have broken Binny's record for best bowling figures by an Indian pacer in Headingley had it not been for the dropped catches. Bumrah's masterclass was hailed by former England captain Nasser Hussain who compared him to the legendary Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne. Hussain hopes Bumrah stays injury free and continues to bamboozle batters like Warne did.
“Hopefully he stays injury free and we talk about him for years to come. There are two brilliant things to watch in cricket — a wrist spinner like Shane Warne bamboozling batters and a genuine fast bowler like Bumrah bamboozling batters,” Hussain said on Sky Sports.
While many youngsters have gone viral on social media trying Bumrah's unique bowling action and run-up, Hussain does not want others to replicate him. He predicts that Bumrah is going to take plenty of wickets, no matter the number of Tests he plays in the ongoing tour.
“He is absolute genius. That is the only word for him. You wouldn't want to replicate him, you wouldn't want to say to young boys and girls to go replicate this run-up or this action.” the 57-year-old said.
“He knows what he is doing, he has perfected an art and he is going to be a thorn in England's side — not for five Tests, maybe three. In those three Test matches he is going to take a shed load of wickets,” he added.
On Day 3, Bumrah got the wickets of Chris Woakes and Josh Tongue to help the visitors bowl out hosts for 465. The in-form pacer chose not to criticise fielders over dropped catches as it is a part and parcel of the game. However, he hopes the batters dig in and set a competitive target for Ben Stokes' England.
If Bumrah takes three or more wickets in the second innings, he will break Binny's record for best match figures by an Indian pacer at the venue.