After being bowled out for 150 in the first Test of the five-match series, at Perth, India hit back to skittle out Australia for 104. Leading the way was Jasprit Bumrah, standing in as captain for Rohit Sharma. He took the first three wickets to reduce Australia to 19-3, and returned later to strike twice more to finish with 5-30.

Yashasvi Jaiswal (161), KL Rahul (77), and Virat Kohli (100 not out) then enabled Bumrah to declare on 487-6. India set Australia a target of 534, the biggest in their history against the hosts.

Bumrah then trapped debutant Nathan McSweeney with his third ball. At the other end, Mohammed Siraj took out Australian captain Pat Cummins, who had promoted himself as night-watch. Then, off the second ball of the last over of the day, Bumrah trapped Marnus Labuschagne leg-before, ending play for the day, with Australia reeling at 12-3.

Bumrah ended the day with figures of 2-1. His match figures now stand at 7-31 and his career tally at 180 wickets. With the wicket of Labuschagne, his career bowling average dropped to 19.94, the best with a 150-wicket cut-off since the First World War.

Even in the pre-War era, only Sydney Barnes (16.43 for his 189 wickets) had a better average. Four other bowlers – Alan Davidson and three legendary West Indians – also average below 21. With 193 wickets at 21.24, Jim Laker is the only spinner, while Kagiso Rabada (313 at 21.49) is the only contemporary bowler apart from Bumrah to average below 22.

Best Test bowling averages (150 wickets) up to November 11, 2024

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