NEW DELHI: Arguably the greatest fast bowler in the history of cricket, Wasim Akram‘s influence extends beyond his records.
The former Pakistani cricketer and captain has inspired generations of fast bowlers globally, especially in Pakistan, where his reverse swing mastery set a template for many bowlers.
After retiring as one of the greats of the game, Akram is working as a commentator, cricket analyst, and nowadays is commentating on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the Test series between India and Australia.
Star Sports, the official broadcaster of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in India, shared a video of Akram decoding the bowling of Jasprit Bumrah, who led India to an emphatic victory in the first Test in Perth.
Explaining his wrist action and skidding of the ball, Akram says, “Bumrah’s bowling arm comes from behind (the shoulder) the hyper-extension and in the end as we say in Punjabi “tunka” flick of the wrist that makes the ball skid which as a batsman you don’t expect specially on the wickets where the ball is keeping low, he has troubled the batsmen of that action which is natural and it is very tough to flick the wrist in the end.”
India defeated Australia by 295 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy as stand-in captain Bumrah returned with outstanding match spell of 8/72.
Bumrah almost defies the laws of physics with his ability to release the ball about 34 cms ahead of the popping crease, when most bowlers release it within 10 cms ahead of the line. These extra 24 cms that Bumrah gets from his release point makes him a terror as he gets the ball to hurry on to the batter like nobody else.
Akram adds, “The release point of Bumrah’s delivery also differs by almost 40 cms and that makes a quite a big difference at this pace and that’s why his deliveries skid after pitching.”

Bumrah is not a natural athlete, but it is his ability to surpass the obstacles that has made him the match-winner that he is.