Bumrah worse than Jansen after 21 Tests: Statistical data reveals eye-opening details

Bumrah vs Jansen after 21 Tests [Source: AFP Photo]

The India vs South Africa Test series is done and dusted and the Proteas side dismantled the hosts to clean sweep the series, 2-0. Almost every South African player performed exceptionally well, but perhaps the most underrated gem was their pacer, Marco Jansen, who became a trouble-maker for the Indian batters.

While the likes of Temba Bavuma and Simon Harmer have been hogging the limelight, and rightly so, it is Jansen who has been their most consistent performer. For India, Jasprit Bumrah is the most important player, but if we compare the statistical data between Jansen and Bumrah after 21 Tests (Jansen has played 21), then the data reveals a shocking story.

Bumrah vs Jansen: Test stats after 21 matches

(Jansen and Bumrah after 21 Tests)

• As the data reveals, after 21 Tests, both Bumrah and Jansen have similar numbers, and while the Indian pacer has three more wickets than the Proteas quick, he lags behind in two major categories - bowling average and strike rate.
• There is not much to separate in terms of bowling average, as Bumrah has an average of 22.14, while Jansen does at 22.12. Moreover, there is a clear difference in terms of strike rate as Bumrah takes wickets after every 49.27 balls, while Jansen does the same at a strike rate of 38.2.
• This showcases that while Bumrah takes more deliveries to get rid of a batter, Jansen accomplishes the feat at a better rate.

What makes Jansen slightly successful than Bumrah?

• In terms of wickets, Bumrah is three ahead, but in Tests, the average and strike rate also hold the key and this is where the oanky Proteas pacer is miles ahead of the Indian beast.
• In the modern era, quality left-arm pacers are a rare commodity, and batters often struggle to play against them because they are so less in number. Even in domestic cricket, skilful left-armers are rare to find, and as a result, when batters come up against Marco Jansen (one of the best in the business), they struggle to pick him up.
• Plus, with the left-arm angle, Jansen manages to swing the ball away from the batter, and at the same time, he has a brilliant nip-backer as he brings lbw in the equation. Moreover, the tall pacer uses his height as an advantage and manages to take wickets at a rapid pace.

Debunking the narrative that Bumrah plays on batting friendly decks

• For sure, Jansen plays on bowling-friendly decks, and out of his first 21 Tests, only three have come in Asian conditions, and the same is the case with Bumrah.
• In his first 21 Tests, the Indian seamer only played 2 matches in Asia as Virat Kohli used him in only SENA conditions during his initial Test journey.
• Moreover, in the recently concluded Test series, Jansen outperformed Bumrah. While the Proteas seamer scalped 12 wickets, Bumrah managed to pick up 8. Jansen had a strike rate of 28.42, and on same pitches, the Indian bowler had a bowling strike rate of 46.50.

Conclusion

Overall, across formats, there is no one who can touch Bumrah or comes anywhere close to him, but when it comes to a toe-to-toe battle with Jansen, Bumrah just falls short as the Proteas player has a better average, and takes wickets in fewer balls. Hence, after 21 Tests, Bumrah slightly falls short of Jansen's magic.

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