Dennis Lillee and Andy Roberts were the best fast bowlers I faced. Bumrah combines the best of both

“Fast bowlers are the heavy artillery of a cricket team, and their firepower often determines the outcome of a Test series.” – Ian Chappell

In the arena of Test cricket, fast bowlers are the architects of chaos. Combining pace, swing and precision, their craft defines the rhythm and outcome of the game. The legends of the past – Malcolm Marshall, Dennis Lillee, Richard Hadlee, Glenn McGrath, Andy Roberts, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Dale Steyn – set benchmarks for excellence.

Among the modern era’s firebrands, Jasprit Bumrah has emerged as a compelling figure, inviting comparisons not only to these stalwarts but also to current South African champion Kagiso Rabada.

I have always said that Lillee and Roberts were the most complete fast bowlers that I faced. How does Bumrah, with his unorthodox action and masterful control, measure against these two and the other titans of modern fast bowling?

Lillee was a warrior, combining raw aggression with psychological prowess. I opposed him many times in domestic cricket and watched him from close quarters against the best batsmen of his era. His ability to make it hard for batsmen to score runs with his probing line and length, allied to his guile and determination, made him the champion that he was.

Lillee’s 355 Test wickets at 23.92 included spells of sheer intimidation, such as his dominance over the formidable West Indies batting line-up. Richie Benaud aptly described him: “He had the heart of a lion and the cunning of a fox.”

Jasprit Bumrah loads up.Credit: Getty Images

Bumrah, though less overtly combative, channels Lillee’s ability to unsettle batsmen. His deadly yorkers and disconcerting bounce – especially with his unorthodox release point and trajectory – echo Lillee’s capacity to dictate terms. Bumrah’s quiet intensity and precision make him a nightmare, much like Lillee’s unrelenting aggression.

Roberts, the original mastermind of the West Indies’ fast-bowling quartet, combined pace with strategic brilliance. His ability to set batsmen up – switching from brutal short balls to devastating yorkers – earned him 202 wickets at an average of 25.61.

Bumrah shares Roberts’ cerebral approach. Both bowlers use subtle variations to outfox batsmen, relying on strategy rather than brute force. Bumrah’s spell in the 2018 Boxing Day Test against Australia – culminating in 6-33 – was a modern echo of Roberts’ game-changing bursts.

Roberts had a loping and relaxed run-up and a very strong shoulder action like Bumrah, and skidded onto you quite quickly, so it was important to be focused on the ball leaving the hand. I prepared for his full ball and thought about hitting him straight to keep me in a neutral position to present the full face of the bat as often as possible.

Dennis Lillee bowls to the West Indies’ Andy Roberts in one of the early SuperTests during World Series Cricket.Credit: Fairfax Photographic

The danger of a bowler who zeroes in on the stumps, as Roberts did and Bumrah does, is that if you relax for a moment and try to hit across their deliveries, you become even more vulnerable to lbw and bowled. I would use the same approach against Bumrah.

Marshall’s genius lay in his adaptability. At 5 feet 11 inches (180 centimetres), he lacked the towering height of traditional quicks but compensated with skill, swing, and relentless accuracy. His 376 Test wickets at an average of 20.94 highlight his ability to dominate on any surface, from Caribbean dust bowls to English green tops.

Bumrah mirrors this versatility. With 151 wickets at an average of 21.03 in just 30 Tests, his ability to excel in diverse conditions recalls Marshall’s dominance. Bumrah’s reverse swing on abrasive surfaces and his ability to seam and swing the ball under cloudy skies have been pivotal, evoking the same uncertainty that batsmen faced against Marshall. As Ian Botham famously remarked of Marshall, “He gave you no respite.” Today, batsmen echo similar sentiments about Bumrah.

Hadlee epitomised precision. With 431 wickets at 22.29, the New Zealand maestro dissected batting line-ups with his metronomic control and strategic nous. Whether exploiting swing-friendly conditions or delivering with pinpoint accuracy on flat decks, Hadlee’s methodical approach set him apart.

Greg Chappell sways clear of an Andy Roberts bouncer during a World Series Cricket match in 1979.Credit: Archive

Bumrah’s meticulousness draws comparisons to Hadlee. His mastery of English conditions, where he averages 22.02, and his ability to exploit even the slightest movement resemble Hadlee’s clinical dismantling of batting orders. Like Hadlee, Bumrah’s focus on perfecting every delivery has made him indispensable in critical moments. He is also carrying the Indian pace attack at present as Hadlee did for New Zealand in his era.

Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis revolutionised reverse swing. Wasim, with 414 wickets at 23.62, blended pace with artistry, while Waqar’s 373 scalps at 23.56 came with ferocious toe-crushers. Both were unparalleled in extracting late movement, particularly on subcontinental pitches.

Bumrah’s ability to reverse the old ball has drawn comparisons to this iconic duo. His spells in the 2021 England series and 2022 South Africa tour showcased his mastery of reverse swing, leaving batsmen helpless against late-dipping yorkers – a hallmark of Wasim and Waqar.

McGrath’s brilliance lay in his relentless accuracy. With 563 wickets at 21.64, he targeted the “danger zone”, consistently exploiting batsmen’s indecision. McGrath’s dominance in the Ashes, where he averaged 20.92, underscored his ability to perform under pressure.

Bumrah’s probing lines evoke memories of McGrath. His consistency in attacking the stumps and forcing errors – combined with a sharp cricketing brain – places him in a similar mould. Bumrah’s precision during India’s historic 2018-19 series win in Australia evoked McGrath’s signature ability to win games with surgical spells.

Steyn’s raw pace, combined with devastating swing, made him one of the most feared bowlers of the modern era. His 439 wickets at 22.95 include unforgettable spells, such as his heroics against Australia in 2008, delivering South Africa’s first series win Down Under.

Bumrah’s standout performances in pressure situations echo Steyn’s influence. His 5-7 against the West Indies in 2019 and 6-33 at Melbourne illustrate his ability to turn games single-handedly. While Steyn’s speed often edged him ahead, Bumrah’s variations, particularly his disguised slower balls, give him a unique weapon.

Rabada, with 297 wickets at 22.50, represents the modern fast-bowling template: pace, aggression, and adaptability. Rabada’s ability to perform on all surfaces has been instrumental in South Africa’s success recently.

Bumrah and Rabada share an ability to thrive across formats without compromising effectiveness. Bumrah’s rise as India’s pace spearhead mirrors Rabada’s journey, both excelling in conditions ranging from seaming English pitches to flat subcontinental tracks.

Bumrah’s numbers are extraordinary: an average of 21.03 and a strike rate of 48.6 rival those of Marshall and Steyn. His record against top teams – Australia (21.25) and England (22.02) – cements his stature as a bowler for the big occasion. Yet, his career, with only 30 Tests so far, remains in its early stages compared to the longevity of his predecessors.

As he has had back surgery already, it is not certain he will have a long career, but if he does, his name will be mentioned in the same breath as the champions above.

What sets Bumrah apart is his combination of skills: Marshall’s adaptability, Lillee’s aggression, Hadlee’s control, Roberts’ strategy, Wasim and Waqar’s reverse swing, McGrath’s precision, Steyn’s explosiveness and Rabada’s modern versatility. As Nasser Hussain aptly observed, “He’s the complete bowler.”

While the legends of yesteryear established the foundations, Bumrah is carving his own legacy – one that promises to inspire future generations of pacemen.

Fast bowling, cricket’s most compelling spectacle, thrives through these icons. Bumrah, with his unorthodox brilliance, stands tall among them, embodying the heavy artillery that Ian Chappell so eloquently described.

Make no mistake, Bumrah stands between Australia and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

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