The mastery of length ft. Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah's Mastery of Length

Jasprit Bumrah is a bowler who has mastered the art of length, making him a difficult proposition for batsmen to face. His ability to identify the optimal length on a given day is unparalleled, and his numbers bear this out.

The Science Behind Bumrah's Success

Bumrah's success can be attributed to his ability to dissect the game and identify the cues that others may overlook. He has a unique action that allows him to generate speed and bounce, making him a nightmare to face. His ability to hit the stumps even from hard lengths, particularly due to the back spin he imparts to the upright seam, makes him a tough proponent to face.

Bumrah's Numbers

Bumrah's numbers in Test cricket are impressive, with 52.2% of his wickets coming from attacking the stumps. This is significantly higher than any other bowler with ten-plus wickets in these Tests. His numbers in South Africa, where conditions mimic Australia's the closest, bear out similar numbers, with 39.4% of wickets coming from attacking the stumps.

What Sets Bumrah Apart

Bumrah's ability to hit the stumps even from hard lengths sets him apart from the rest of the pack. Among the fast bowlers to have bowled at least 500 deliveries in Australia since 2018/19 season, 13.3% of his balls were projected to hit the stumps, the highest. This is significantly higher than the home seamers, with Scott Boland, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc all averaging less than 12%.

The Importance of Length

The ability to hit the stumps is a key component of Test cricket, and Bumrah's mastery of length makes him a major threat to batsmen. His ability to generate speed and bounce, combined with his unique action, makes him a nightmare to face. For India to pose a bigger challenge to the Australian batters, they would need to backup their leader and take a page out of Bumrah's book when it comes to lengths.

The Brisbane Test

The Brisbane Test will be a crucial one for Bumrah, as it will be his first Test at the venue. The fast wicket at the Gabba is historically one of the fastest in the world, and Bumrah will be looking to make the most of it. With his mastery of length, he will be a major threat to the Australian batters, and India will need to be at their best to take advantage of him.