Scott Boland: The Hidden Giant of Test Cricket Who Outshines Even Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah is widely hailed as the finest fast bowler in the world today, admired for his pace, accuracy, and ability to deliver under pressure. But while Bumrah’s brilliance is undisputed, the numbers tell a surprising story—Australia’s Scott Boland has quietly carved out a place in history as a bowler whose Test average surpasses even that of Bumrah, making him statistically the most effective Test bowler of the last 110 years.

Yes, you read that right. Scott Boland, not as globally renowned as Mitchell Starc or Pat Cummins, has emerged as a statistical marvel. In the third Test of the ongoing series against the West Indies, Boland made his first appearance of the tour and immediately left his mark. He bowled a tight spell, finishing with figures of 3 wickets for 32 runs in 13.1 overs, becoming Australia’s most successful bowler in that innings.

What makes Boland's achievement historic is his exceptional bowling average. Since his debut in 2021, he has bowled over 2000 balls in Test cricket and taken 59 wickets at an astonishing average of just 17.33. According to records, no bowler in over a century—since 1915—has maintained such a low average after delivering 2000 or more balls in Test cricket. This statistic places him ahead of every other bowler, including Bumrah.

While Boland tops this elite list, a few other names have also maintained better averages than Bumrah in the long history of the game. These include:

• Bert Ironmonger (Australia): 74 wickets at 17.97 (1928–1933)

• Frank Tyson (England): 76 wickets at 18.56 (1954–1959)

• Axar Patel (India): 55 wickets at 19.34 (2021–2024)

Jasprit Bumrah, despite his phenomenal performances and match-winning spells across the globe, sits fifth on this list with 217 wickets at an average of 19.48 from 2018 to 2025.

The takeaway here is not to diminish Bumrah’s greatness but to highlight how Scott Boland has quietly become a statistical giant in the format. Often operating in the shadows of more celebrated teammates, Boland’s consistent accuracy, control, and ability to strike on helpful pitches have made him a lethal force in red-ball cricket.

While debates about who is the best will continue, one thing is clear: Scott Boland’s name now belongs among the elite, and his story is a testament to how performance, even without the fanfare, can shape legacy in the most unexpected ways.