Australian fans question Jasprit Bumrah’s action after historic spell in Perth Test

Jasprit Bumrah. (Source – Getty Images)

India’s fast bowling group helped the visitors gain the upper hand against Australia in the first Test at Perth’s Optus Stadium. Captain Jasprit Bumrah led from the front with his brilliant spell but sparked debates about his unusual bowling action. The pace sensation’s five-wicket haul drew scrutiny from some Australian fans questioning the legality of his technique.

Bumrah’s brilliance began with India defending their first-innings total of 150. The stand-in captain responded with a phenomenal spell, dismantling Australia’s top order with figures of 4/17 on Day 1. He continued his dominance on Day 2, completing his 11th Test five-wicket haul by dismissing Alex Carey with his first delivery of the day, finishing with impressive figures of 5/30 from 18 overs.

The victims of Bumrah’s spell included debutant Nathan McSweeney, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (dismissed for a golden duck), and Pat Cummins, effectively putting India in control of the match. The performance helped India secure a crucial 46-run first-innings lead despite their initial batting struggles.

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You can see his arm straight from the wrist to elbow: Ian Pont

While Bumrah’s performance drew backlash, some fans on social media questioned the legality of his bowling action. This isn’t the first time his unique technique has faced criticism.

The debate previously surfaced in 2022 during discussions about Pakistan pacer Mohammad Hasnain’s action in the BBL. Former England international and renowned bowling coach Ian Pont has mentioned about the technical clarity on the matter. 

“You can see his arm straight from the wrist to elbow. The rule is when it is above the vertical that the elbow must not bend past 15 degrees. You can clearly see the forward flexion in his arm, which is a hyperextension. This is allowed (a forward bend) for people with hyper-mobile joints. A hyperextension is a movement in a similar direction to the direction of movement – not downward or to the side. This is why Bumrah’s action is classified as legal since it is within the guidelines of hypermobility,” he wrote on social media.

Following Bumrah’s bowling heroics, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal constructed an unbeaten 172-run opening partnership, extending India’s lead to 218 runs by stumps on Day 2. The Australian bowling attack, led by Pat Cummins, has struggled to find answers against India’s determined batting display.