Bumrah is best fast bowler across the three formats: Steve Smith

Australian batting stalwart Steve Smith heaped huge praise for Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Smith lauded Bumrah and mentioned him as "the best fast bowler over three formats".

The 2024-25 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is set to begin on November 22 in Perth. The remaining matches are scheduled across Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney. The five-match Test series will see the Indian team, currently leading the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 table, attempt to secure their third consecutive Test series victory on Australian soil.

"He's a wonderful bowler, whether I face him with the new ball, slightly older ball, or even the old ball. He's got great skills with all of them. He's a great bowler, arguably the best fast bowler across the three formats. It's always going to be a challenge," Smith told Star Sports.

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Jasprit Bumrah has dismissed Steve Smith only once in Test cricket

Both the players have locked horns against each other in five innings in Test matches, with Smith scoring 52 runs off 114 balls for one dismissal. Smith has a batting average of 52 against Bumrah, while the Indian pacer has a bowling strike rate of 114 against the Australian batter. 

Fresh off winning the Player of the Tournament award in the T20 World Cup 2024, where he claimed 15 wickets in eight matches, Bumrah continues to spearhead India's pace attack. His performance in the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai was also immense as bagged five wickets in the match. The 30-year-old's performance against the Aussies will be crucial for his side in pursuit of reaching their third WTC final.