Jasprit Bumrah for India [Source: X]
Comparisons in cricket are very common, whether it is between the “God of Cricket” Sachin Tendulkar and Vaibhav Suryavanshi or between Stuart Broad and Jasprit Bumrah.
Continuing this tradition, former England skipper Alastair Cook has questioned the ability of Jasprit Bumrah to torment batters in Test cricket while also questioning his ability to remain economical at the same time.
Bumrah Roars In T20 World Cup 2026
The modern-era GOAT recently picked up 14 wickets in the T20 World Cup 2026, helping India lift the title. His most recent contribution, and perhaps his most important one, came against England, where he restricted a surging Jacob Bethell, who punished a solid ton and almost snatched the game away from the Men in Blue.
Nevertheless, where doubts crept in, Alastair Cook acknowledged that although Bumrah is currently the best all-format bowler in the world, he cannot come close to spells like Stuart Broad's 8/15 in the 2015 Ashes Test against Australia.
Jasprit Bumrah’s Numbers In Whites
Bumrah has been pretty consistent with the ball in Test whites. His career stats boast 234 wickets from 52 matches, where he has an economy rate of only 2.77 and bowls at an average of 19.79.
Although his 2025 campaign took a slight dip, where he managed only 31 wickets from 14 innings, previously in 2024, Jasprit Bumrah had managed to scalp a whopping 71 wickets, his career high in terms of year-on-year performance, from just 26 innings at an average of 14.93 and a strike rate of 30.17.
Notably, his career best stands at 6/27 in 2019 against the West Indies, where in that series he scalped 8 wickets while playing two Test matches.
Also Read: Not Sanju Samson! AB de Villiers Names Deserving T20 World Cup POTM Winner
Alastair Cook Raises Doubt On Bumrah
Cook, England's former captain and legendary cricketer, has brought this conversation about the best bowling spells while comparing Bumrah to Stuart Broad.
Speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast, Alastair Cook raised the question of whether Bumrah has been the best in terms of taking match-winning wickets in Test cricket or not.
"Is he the best in terms of match-winning spells in Test cricket? Without a shadow of a doubt, he is the best all-format bowler around, I think. I mean, you can safely say that. But has he, like, in a Test match bowled a spell like an 8/15, or is he not that kind of bowler?" Cook said.
Vaughan Defends Jasprit Bumrah
Although Cook raised a stinging question for the bowler who is currently dominating almost all arenas of modern cricket, Cook's former teammate and fellow ex-captain Michael Vaughan countered him while praising Bumrah.
"You've got to remember that I started watching or studying cricket in 1985, and he's the best I've seen. He's probably like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo - those kinds of players," Vaughan said.
Vaughan compared Jasprit Bumrah to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, saying that he is the best he has ever witnessed in cricket.
Stuart Broad’s Historic Spell Against Australia in Ashes 2015
The comparison in question, Broad's 8/15, came in the 2015 Ashes Test where, in Nottingham, Australia batted first and was completely outfoxed by Broad's brilliance.
The top order collapsed like a house of cards, with Stuart Broad scalping Chris Rogers, Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh, Michael Clarke, amongst others, bowling out Australia for just 60 runs in their first innings.
In a heroic response, England managed 391 runs, to which Australia faltered again and were bundled out for just 253 runs, handing England a win by an innings and 78 runs.
Also Read: Kavya Maran's Sunrisers Suffer Consequence For Buying Abrar Ahmed At Hundred Auction




