Jasprit Bumrah makes history at MCG, becomes first bowler with sub-20 average to 200-wicket club in Tests

Senior India pacer Jasprit Bumrah reached a major career milestone on Sunday with a four-wicket burst on Day 4 of the fourth Test against Australia, reaching the coveted milestone of 200 Test wickets in the process. Bumrah achieved the milestone by dismissing in-form batter Travis Head before adding a couple of more wickets in a superb three-over spell.

Bumrah struck twice in one over after being brought back into the attack in the 34th over towards the end of the afternoon session, removing Head for 1 before getting rid of struggling all-rounder Mitchell Marsh for a four-ball duck as the hosts lost three wickets in a space of 10 deliveries.

The 30-year-old would then strike in his very next over, getting rid of wicketkeeper Alex Carey for 2 as Australia, who were cruising at 80/2 at one stage, lost four wickets for just 11 runs and were reduced to 91/6.

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Bumrah had earlier avenged getting carted all over the MCG by Sam Konstas by castling him with a beauty in the morning session, the debutant departing for 8 on Sunday after posting a 65-ball 60 on the opening day.

Bumrah joins an elite list

Bumrah became the 12th Indian bowler to reach the 200-wicket milestone and the sixth pacer after Kapil Dev (434), Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan (311) as well as Javagal Srinath (236) and Mohammed Shami (229). Bumrah, however, is the fastest Indian pacer to the milestone.

More importantly, Bumrah went past legendary bowlers such as the West Indian trio of Malcolm Marshall, Joel Garner and Curtly Ambrose to become the first bowler with an average under 20 (19.56) to reach the 200-wicket milestone.

Bumrah also became the fourth fastest bowler to 200 Test wickets after Pakistan’s Waqar Younis (7,725), South Africans Dale Steyn (7,848) and Kagiso Rabada (8,153), consuming 8,484 balls to bring up the milestone.

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Social media, naturally, was abuzz after the modern-day bowling great reached an important career milestone. Here are select reactions to Bumrah’s 200th Test wicket:

200 sticks at 19.56. Unreal. What a bowler. Mind-boggling stuff. Well done Boom Boom. @Jaspritbumrah93 #AUSvIND #Bumrah #BGT pic.twitter.com/ZTtjkUuTga

— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) December 29, 2024

We only believe in Jassi bhai 😎

200 Test Wickets for Boom Boom Bumrah 🔥🔥

He brings up this milestone with the big wicket of Travis Head.#TeamIndia #AUSvIND @Jaspritbumrah93 pic.twitter.com/QiiyaCi7BX

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 29, 2024

Long after I am done with this game, I will remember Bumrah's opening bursts in this series and smile. Truly, it has been a master at work.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 29, 2024

Bumrah, Best bowler in the world atm

— Darren Lehmann (@darren_lehmann) December 29, 2024

Bumrah is also streets ahead of other bowlers in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, taking his tally to 29 – 12 more than Australian skipper Cummins, who occupies the second spot on the list – at an outstanding average of 12.34.

Labuschagne stands tall

Marnus Labuschagne, however, continued to resist the Indian attack that was breathing fire in the afternoon, completing back-to-back half-centuries in the ‘Boxing Day Test’.

The Australian No 3 forged an unbroken 44-run partnership for the seventh wicket with skipper Pat Cummins, who was batting on 21 as Australia reached 135/6 at tea on Day 4, stretching their lead to 240 in the process.

India had added 11 runs to their overnight score earlier in the morning before getting bowled out for 369. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who had completed an emotional maiden Test hundred towards the end of Day 3, becoming the final Indian wicket to fall as he was dismissed by Nathan Lyon on 114.