Ollie Robinson, writing for Wisden.com, has rated Jasprit Bumrah as “the best bowler in the world” and says the India quick’s success has prompted him to practice his slower ball.

Robinson, not selected for the first two Tests, has been watching closely from the sidelines as Bumrah has gone about his business. The right-armer has taken 15 wickets in two Tests at 10.66 each, and while Ollie Pope and Tom Hartley were able to script a comeback victory at Hyderabad, Bumrah was named Player of the Match at Visakhapatnam to level the series at 1-1.

“Jasprit Bumrah has been crazy good,” Robinson said. “I must have said, ‘This bloke’s the best bowler in the world,’ ten times in Vizag.”

Robinson picked out two balls in particular that highlighted Bumrah’s quality: his yorker to Pope on the second day, and a slower ball to Ben Foakes which led to a return catch. The first came in an exemplary spell of reverse swing that broke the game open after a strong England start, while the second ushered in victory after a half-century stand had threatened a fightback.

“The way he got Popey out, I was like, ‘Oh my, this guy’s a joke.’ And then he got Foakesy out with a slower ball and I’m like, ‘Oh my goodness, can this guy get any better?’” Robinson said. “You watch him and you think, ‘Wow, he’s good.’ And then there’s something else where you think, ‘He’s amazing, can he do anything more?’ And as a bowler – me and Jimmy were speaking about it and after the last game – to watch him ply his trade in India is really special because we’re always striving to put on a performance like that in these conditions. He’s really special to watch. Credit to Jasprit – he’s extraordinary. He’s definitely given me food for thought in the way that he bowls over here.”

Foakes is foxed and Bumrah does it again 🔥

World class bowler.#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/7y5zc1GmQS

— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) February 5, 2024

In particular, Robinson has taken cues from Bumrah’s slower ball. Bumrah made his name in white-ball cricket before establishing himself as a Test star, and recently became the first bowler in history to top the ICC’s rankings in all three formats. Robinson, yet to play for England in white-ball cricket, says that he has been inspired by Bumrah to bring his own T20 skills into the Test arena.

“The way he changes his pace and the different balls that he’s got when the game’s meandering along, Foakesy and Hartley in the last game were playing really nicely in the fourth innings and were playing his on-pace ball fairly well, there was no inkling that he was going to bowl that 120kph cutter that got Foakes,” he said. “His art of surprise and execution is something that I wouldn’t have practiced as much before. I practice smashing top-of-off stuff and trying to move the ball either way. I’ve never really thought about using my T20 skills in a Test match that often. I actually practiced the slower ball that Chris Woakes bowls – not the knuckleball, the one where you lock your wrist and come under it a little bit slower – with Paul Collingwood in Vizag after watching what Bumrah was producing.”

With England opting to play just one quick at Hyderabad and Vizag, Robinson has been left out of the XI on both occasions this series. He also did not feature on England’s last tour of India, but has a good record against them, overall, and in Asia, averaging 21, 22 and 21 respectively.

“I’m raring to go if Ben knocks on my door and says I’m in for the next Test,” he said. “I’ve been training as hard as ever. Hopefully I’ll get my chance at some point.”

Read Ollie Robinson’s first and second columns for Wisden.com during this series.