Jasprit Bumrah joins Pakistan legend in Test record’s elite list

Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah has achieved a remarkable milestone in Test cricket, surpassing legendary bowlers like Waqar Younis in the list of best bowling averages in a calendar year (minimum 50 wickets). Bumrah recorded an exceptional average of 14.92 in 2024, claiming 71 wickets, placing him third on the all-time list.

Topping the list is Pakistan's Imran Khan, who registered a sensational average of 13.29 in 1982 while taking 62 wickets in 17 innings. England's Sydney Barnes is second with an average of 14.14 in 1912, claiming 61 wickets in 15 innings. Bumrah now sits in third, followed by Waqar Younis, who had an average of 15.23 in 1993 with 55 wickets in 12 innings. West Indies' Joel Garner rounds off the top five with a 16.60 average in 1980, taking 53 wickets in 22 innings.  

Bumrah’s stellar year included a dominant performance in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, where he claimed 30 wickets in just four Test matches. His consistent brilliance with the ball has cemented his place among the greatest bowlers in the history of Test cricket.