Jasprit Bumrah vs James Anderson in Tests

[Daemon]

If a team could only have a Bumrah or an Anderson, in strictly just tests, then they'd more likely take an Anderson. They'd get insane longevity. Your bowling attack is good to go for 180+ tests / 20+ years!

(Even though Bumrah obviously is a much better bowler)

Depends. A poor-mediocre team might take Anderson because he at least can win them games at home, and when they tour they were going to lose anyways so it doesn’t matter.

A good team would take Bumrah because they’ve presumably got home games covered but need the vastly superior record overseas, even if it isn’t for a full career.

 

[Coronis]

Possibly. But not sure what 58 tests in that era is equivalent to in modern era.. if it is still around 60 tests, then I'd still take an Anderson's career as it would add much 'more value' to your side than a Garner's career. You'd get a very good bowler for 20-22 years. (He could still play tests right now).

Guess you weren’t paying much attention the past couple of years

 

[ankitj]

Away Tests
Lillee : 26
Garner : 29
Cummins : 31
Rabada : 33
Donald : 34
Bumrah : 35
Holding : 37
Steyn : 37
Hadlee : 43
Ambrose : 46
Marshall : 50
Imran : 50


True.
But enough to judge his talent as a bowler there.
12 Tests. 47 wickets. Avg of 17. SR of 35.

Cummins has fewer away tests than Bumrah? Wow.

Steyn has just 2 more!

 

[ankitj]

In fact Bumrah has more away test wickets than Steyn.

 

[DrWolverine]

Away wickets

Imran : 199
Bumrah : 172
Steyn : 164
Holding : 163
Garner : 136
Barnes : 126
Lindwall : 116
Davidson : 102
Trueman : 78

 

[ankitj]

Donald: 153
Lillee: 124
Cummins: 121

 

[Coronis]

Walsh: 290

 

[Randomfan]

Anderson’s record is pretty impressive if we count from 2014 onwards. In his final 10 years of his career, he played 97 tests and picked 364 wickets at avg of 22. This includes a relatively below par final two years in 2023 and 2024.

I think he was simply a mediocre bowler in 2000s and post 2010, he became a really different bowler who operated at almost ATG level for next 12-13 years.

Post 2010: his best phase

46 tests 149 wickets in Ind/Aus/SA/NZ with 3 5-fers at avg of near 30.

I am not sure any ATG bowler's best phase will look like this while touring top 4 opponents. You are correct in saying almost, but it's a visible problem for Anderson and he did not overcome this even during his best period.

Even after 2014, 28 tests in those venues with 2 5-fers. Anderson was picking 5-fer every 15 tests or so when playing away against good teams.

 

[Randomfan]

Away Tests
Lillee : 26
Garner : 29
Cummins : 31
Rabada : 33
Donald : 34
Bumrah : 35
Holding : 37
Steyn : 37
Hadlee : 43
Ambrose : 46
Marshall : 50
Imran : 50


True.
But enough to judge his talent as a bowler there.
12 Tests. 47 wickets. Avg of 17. SR of 35.

Yes, 47 wickets is way more than most ATG pacers have in India so that's big enough sample size in India. 3 tours each in Eng, Aus and SA.

I think some fans may rate him drastically higher if he gets 50 additional cheap wickets against SL/WI/BD etc. He has already taken wickets cheaply against weaker teams. I think 10-12 runs per wickets or something like that. But 50 additional will help many fans to rate him higher, but I don't think it adds much for me. His sample size against good teams is large.

 

[Majestic]

Post 2010: his best phase

46 tests 149 wickets in Ind/Aus/SA/NZ with 3 5-fers at avg of near 30.

I am not sure any ATG bowler's best phase will look like this while touring top 4 opponents. You are correct in saying almost, but it's a visible problem for Anderson and he did not overcome this even during his best period.

Even after 2014, 28 tests in those venues with 2 5-fers. Anderson was picking 5-fer every 15 tests or so when playing away against good teams.

lol, 30 avg for a pacer in top 5 nations away is still better than a certain batsman averaging 32 in top 5 nations away and yet posters over here thinking that was an arbitrary cut off.

 

[Randomfan]

If a team could only have a Bumrah or an Anderson, in strictly just tests, then they'd more likely take an Anderson. They'd get insane longevity. Your bowling attack is good to go for 180+ tests / 20+ years!

(Even though Bumrah obviously is a much better bowler)

Anderson wasn't good for 180+ tests / 20+ years.

 

[Randomfan]

lol, 30 avg for a pacer in top 5 nations away is still better than a certain batsman averaging 32 in top 5 nations away and yet posters over here thinking that was an arbitrary cut off.

Both outputs are not good enough for ATG level. You got to perform in tough tours to be counted among the best of all time.

 

[Majestic]

Both outputs are not good enough for ATG level. You got to perform in tough tours to be counted among the best of all time.

Anderson deserves a bit leeway for maintaining phenomenal longevity being England’s main fast bowler for such a long period and anyways, an average of 30 or 32 with bowl away in 4 countries away from home >> averaging 32 with bat in 4 countries away from home hence I would probably just have Anderson in that bracket.