Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting praised Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah on Wednesday, declaring him the finest pace bowler across all formats. This commendation followed Bumrah's outstanding performance in the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series held in Perth last week. In the absence of Rohit Sharma, Bumrah spearheaded India to a remarkable 295-run victory at the Optus Stadium, where he claimed eight wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings that contributed to Australia being dismissed for a mere 104 runs.

India found itself engulfed in uncertainty, particularly following the disheartening 0-3 defeat on home soil against New Zealand earlier last month. However, Bumrah, leading the team for the second time in this format and the sixth time in international cricket, elevated his performance alongside a relatively inexperienced pace attack that included two debutants, Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy.

According to Ponting in the most recent ICC Review, the captain's performance was of utmost significance. He emphasized that the captain demonstrated why he is undoubtedly the premier fast bowler globally across all formats of cricket.

Ponting elaborated on the captain's contributions throughout the match, particularly in the first innings, highlighting his speed, consistency, and skill in moving the ball. He noted the captain's relentless challenge to the stumps and his ability to consistently hit them, which set him apart from all other bowlers in that match.

A comparison between Glenn McGrath and Jasprit Bumrah.

Bumrah's display in Perth has immediately raised inquiries regarding his potential status as the greatest fast bowler in cricket history. In the realm of Test cricket, his average of 20.06 ranks as the second-best among fast bowlers with at least 150 wickets. Notably, in Australia, he boasts an impressive average of 18.80, having taken 40 wickets in merely eight matches, achieving a remarkable strike rate of 2.46.

Ricky Ponting has described Jasprit Bumrah as "India's greatest fast bowler" and asserted that he currently stands as the finest fast bowler in the realm of world cricket.

"I firmly believe he is undoubtedly India's greatest fast bowler," Ponting stated. "Many of the legends who came before him did not participate in all three formats to the extent that he has. I encourage everyone to take a moment to observe his performance; in T20s, One Day Internationals, and Test matches, he is indisputably the best at this time. Success is not solely measured by wickets taken; it also involves maintaining a high level of performance over an extended period. Recently, we witnessed how exceptional he can be when the conditions are favorable."

The Australian cricket legend drew a parallel between Jasprit Bumrah and the iconic fast bowlers Curtly Ambrose and Glenn McGrath, highlighting a shared characteristic among them: their ability to restrict batters from accumulating runs.

Ponting remarked, "It is the accumulation of pressure. Curtly Ambrose exhibited the same trait, as did Glenn McGrath. Like all exceptional fast bowlers, they create challenges for scoring."

"You simply cannot score off him [Bumrah]. Runs are hard to come by. The elite bowlers excel at making it difficult for batsmen to score, which in turn creates an uncomfortable batting experience."

"When a batsman becomes preoccupied with merely surviving rather than scoring, it is at that moment that batting becomes exceedingly challenging."

Ponting's 'proactive' game plan against Bumrah

The experienced batsman was subsequently inquired about his strategy if he were to confront Bumrah, and Ponting subtly conveyed a message to the current Australian squad, encouraging them to adopt a "proactive" approach.