“Glad he wasn’t in my era…..”, Former England Captain Michael Atherton Hails Jasprit Bumrah as a Nightmare for Batters

Former England captain Michael Atherton has showered praise on Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah following his outstanding performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Atherton, who played against some of the best fast bowlers in cricket history, expressed relief that he never had to face Bumrah.

Atherton Praises Bumrah’s Unique Style

Bumrah finished the series as the leading wicket-taker, claiming 32 wickets in five Tests. Speaking on the Sky Cricket podcast with Nasser Hussain, Atherton said, “Well, just glad that he wasn’t in my era. He looks a nightmare to face. I always feel that bowlers with slightly unusual actions are the hardest.”

Atherton compared facing Bumrah to legendary quicks like Alan Donald and Brett Lee. “You know, some of the quickest bowlers I faced, like Alan Donald and Brett Lee, had beautiful actions. Although they were unbelievably quick, you kind of got a clear sight of the ball. With Bumrah, that’s very different.”

Jasprit Bumrah: A Challenge for Modern Batters

Atherton highlighted how Bumrah’s unique bowling style makes life difficult for batters. “His stuttering run-up, sudden pace, and wrist snap make him awkward to face. Most batters rely on pre-movements to time their shots, but with Bumrah, that seems very hard. His release is closer to the batter, and his deliveries are like thunderbolts,” he explained.

Bumrah’s effectiveness lies in his ability to disrupt a batter’s rhythm. Atherton added, “He’s got a hyperextension in his elbow, and that adds to his unpredictability. It’s just very tough to handle.”

Nasser Hussain Reflects on Tactics

Former England captain Nasser Hussain joined the discussion, sharing insights into how teams approach fast bowlers. “It’s funny, isn’t it? Back in our playing days, team meetings were all about opposition batters. We’d discuss how to bowl to Ricky Ponting or Brian Lara. But we rarely talked about tackling bowlers like Courtney Walsh. Batters had to figure that out themselves,” Hussain said.

Bumrah’s performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has cemented his reputation as one of the best pacers in the world. Despite leaving the field on Day 2 of the final Test with back issues, he finished the series on a high. Team India is now gearing up for a white-ball series against England, featuring five T20Is and three ODI. 

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