Jasprit Bumrah vs Scott Boland: Comparing the stats of the two after 13 Tests

Jasprit Bumrah and Scott Boland were two of the most lethal fast bowlers in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Down Under. The Indian ace speedster finished as the highest wicket-taker, while Boland finished in the third spot.

Bumrah single-handedly carried India's attack, picking up 32 wickets in five matches at an average of 13.06, including two four-wicket and three five-wicket hauls. The 31-year-old was exceptional in the first Test in Perth, picking up a five-wicket haul. He recorded his best figures of 6/76 in the third Test in Brisbane.

Bumrah was named the Player of the Series award for his exceptional performances. He also strengthened his position at the top of the ICC Test Rankings for Test bowlers.

Boland, on the other hand, came in as a replacement for Josh Hazlewood in the pink ball Test in Adelaide. He missed the following fixture at the Gabba only to return for the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The right-arm pacer signed off with an excellent performance in Sydney.

Boland picked up 21 wickets in only three Tests at an average of 13.19, with best figures of 6/45 that came in the second innings of the Sydney Test, where he single-handedly derailed India's innings. The series-winning performance has earned him a spot in the top 10 in the latest released ICC Test Rankings for bowlers.

While both cricketers had extraordinary outings in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy, how did they fare after 13 Tests? Let's take a look.

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Jasprit Bumrah's performance in first 13 Test matches

The 31-year-old first made headlines with his performances for the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). His unorthodox action, toe-crushing yorkers, and ability to fox batters with slower deliveries made him an instant hit.

Bumrah made his limited-overs debut in 2016 and was handed the red-ball cap a couple of years later against South Africa in Cape Town. He had an ordinary outing in the first innings, before picking up three in the second essay. However, South Africa won the game by 72 runs.

He picked up three more wickets in the next Test before he registered his maiden five-wicket haul in red-ball cricket. The Ahmedabad-born cricketer returned with 5/54 in the first innings of the Johannesburg Test and then picked up two more, as India registered a convincing 63-run victory.

Bumrah then traveled to England later that year and took 14 wickets in three Tests, including figures of 5/85 in Nottingham. The right-arm speedster then embarked on his maiden tour to Australia, where he wreaked havoc. He finished as the highest wicket-taker with 21, including a six-wicket haul, as India won their first Test series Down Under.

He then toured the West Indies for a two-match series and returned with 13 wickets. Bumrah's 13th Test outing came against New Zealand in Wellington, where he scalped only one wicket.

Overall, Jasprit Bumrah picked up 63 wickets in his first 13 Tests at an average of 20.34. His best Test figures of 6/27 also came during this period against the West Indies in Kingston.

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Scott Boland's performance in first 13 Tests

Boland was in and out of Australia's white-ball squads until the age of 32 when he made his Test debut against England at his home ground - the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Scott Boland steamrolled through the English line-up with figures of 6/7 in the second innings, as the home side won by an innings and 14 runs.

He eventually finished the series with 18 scalps in three Tests at an average of 9.55. However, it wasn't enough to guarantee him a berth in the playing XI, with the management persisting with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood.

Boland has been the first-choice replacement whenever any of the three frontline pacers has been unavailable. The 35-year-old has responded to the job every time with distinction. The veteran speedster took his game to a new level against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after being called in as Hazlewood's replacement.

He was superb in the final Test in Sydney, picking up a six-wicket haul and paving a path for his team to regain the trophy after 10 years. Overall, Scott Boland has 56 wickets to his name after 13 Tests at an average of 17.66.

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Conclusion

While Jasprit Bumrah is head and shoulders above when it comes to numbers, Boland has also had telling impacts with his consistent line and length.

As Test cricket steps into a new dilemma with declining viewership and relevancy, these two bowlers are expected to keep the fire of red-ball cricket alive with more fiery spells in the near future.