Sir Donald Bradman, widely hailed as the greatest batter in cricket history, left an indelible mark on the sport with a jaw-dropping Test average of 99.94. His dominance with the bat in an era of limited technology, challenging pitches, and fierce competition made him a once-in-a-lifetime player. While the cricketing world continues to honour Bradman’s unmatched legacy, the debate over who could be the equivalent in bowling remains open.
Over the years, several bowlers have entered the conversation—Muttiah Muralitharan for his spin wizardry, Glenn McGrath for relentless accuracy, Dale Steyn for pure pace, and James Anderson for longevity.
Adam Gilchrist reveals the Don Bradman of bowling
In recent times, India’s Jasprit Bumrah has emerged as a standout performer across all formats, with his unorthodox action, searing yorkers, and remarkable consistency. Australian legend Adam Gilchrist, a three-time World Cup winner and one of cricket’s most respected voices, made a bold comparison while speaking on Cricbuzz. In a glowing tribute, he declared Bumrah as the closest bowling equivalent to Bradman.
Gilchrist highlighted how Bumrah, like Bradman, consistently performs under pressure and in unfamiliar conditions, often standing head and shoulders above his peers.
“Bumrah is probably the best bowler ever, a fast bowler. When you look at the statistics and the different situations in which he has displayed his skills by going out of his comfort zone, I think you can imagine that Sir Don Bradman has also done the same thing in his career. He has also performed by going out of his comfort zone and he was far ahead of his other teammates in doing so,” said Gilchrist on Cricbuzz.
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A nightmare for batters
Gilchrist’s endorsement wasn’t just rooted in Bumrah’s stats but in his adaptability and relentless excellence. He particularly pointed out Bumrah’s recent exploits during the Australian summer and his ability to dominate across formats.
“A fast bowler from India, bowling consistently throughout, especially in the series that we saw recently, bowling consistently in the Australian summer and bowling brilliantly, we just kept watching him closely commentating on that series. Watching him, it became clear that he is the best bowler across formats. There is no debate on that,” added Gilchrist.
Bumrah’s ability to outthink batters, whether with the red ball in Tests or the white ball in T20s and ODIs, has made him a nightmare for top-order players. His unique action, deceptive pace, and pinpoint accuracy make him a rare asset, and Gilchrist’s comparison to Bradman only amplifies the growing belief that Bumrah may be redefining fast bowling greatness in the modern era.
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