Ricky Ponting Praises Jasprit Bumrah, Calls Him ‘Best Multi-Format Bowler In The World’ – News18

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has reserved big praise for star Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah by calling him the best multi-format bowler in the world. According to Ponting, Bumrah has been the best in the world for the last five or six years, and he became an even better player after making a comeback from a long-term back injury last year.

“I’ve said it for a long time; he’s probably been the best multi-format bowler there’s been in world cricket for the last five or six years,” Ponting said in the ICC Review.

“There might have been some fears a couple of years ago when the injuries come in and ‘would he come back the same?’, but I think he’s actually come back better,” Ponting said.

Bumrah suffered a back injury in July 2022, because of which he missed the Asia Cup in August–September. He made a comeback during the T20I series against Australia in September but got injured again. He was out of action for almost 11 months, and during that period, the 30-year-old right-arm pacer missed the 2022 T20 World Cup and the 2023 WTC Final.

There were question marks over his pace and skillset during his time away from the game, but he silenced everyone by delivering super shows for India in all three formats of the game after making a comeback.

“If I watch what he did in the T20 World Cup, the pace is still there; there’s nothing that’s changed with the accuracy or what he can deliver. The skillset is all the same. He’s getting better year by year. So, he would rank right up there.”

The Australian great went on to draw parallels with Bumrah to pace legends Glenn McGrath and James Anderson.

“The greatest way to always get a real gauge on these players is by asking (other) players,” Ponting said.

“And when you talk to opposition batsmen about him (Bumrah) in particular, it’s always, ‘No, he’s a nightmare! You never know what’s going to happen. One’s going to swing, one’s going to seam; he’s going to bowl an in-swinger; he’s going to bowl an out-swinger. And the consistency is there.’

“So when you’ve got that skillset and the consistency that he has, then you’re going to be a great player. Look at (Glenn) McGrath, look at (James) Anderson, these guys, their longevity and their skills being able to hold up for such a long period of time is what separates them from the rest.”