Best in 112 years! Ollie Robinson breaks Jasprit Bumrah’s mark to claim Test cricket’s best bowling average

Ollie Robinson of England (AP Photo) Ollie Robinson created a remarkable statistical milestone in Test cricket when he overtook Jasprit Bumrah to claim the best bowling average among bowlers with at least 20 Tests in the last 100 years.Robinson reached the target during England’s second Test against Pakistan at Lord’s on Sunday as his four-wicket burst helped England take firm control of the fourth innings. The English seamer has already entered the ranks of the most prolific Test bowlers of the modern era and further boosted his tally by dismantling Pakistan’s resistance.With his second innings wickets, Robinson’s career average moved to around 19.5, surpassing Bumrah’s previous benchmark of 19.79 for bowlers who made their Test debut after 2000 and played at least 20 matches.At the time of this report, Robinson had played 23 Tests, bowling 43 innings and taking 99 wickets at an average of 19.53. His best figures from the innings are 5/39.Bumrah, meanwhile, took 234 wickets in 52 Tests at an average of 19.79, with best figures of 6/27.

Best Test bowling average (min. 20 Tests)

• W Barnes (England – 1890): 21 Tests, 51 wickets, Ave. 15.54, Best 6/28
• SF Barnes (England – 1914): 27 Tests, 189 wickets, Ave. 16.43, Best 9/103
• R Peel (England – 1896): 20 Tests, 101 wickets, Ave. 16.98, Best 7/31
• J Briggs (England – 1899): 33 Tests, 118 wickets, Ave. 17.75, Best 8/11
• OE Robinson* (England – 2026*): 23 Tests, 99 wickets, Ave. 19.53, Best 5/39
• JJ Bumrah (India – 2026*): 52 Tests, 234 wickets, Ave. 19.79, Best 6/27

Robinson tears through Pakistan’s resistance

Robinson’s statistical achievement came when he played a key role in England’s push for victory at Lord’s.Pakistan were 140/5 at tea at four in the afternoon chasing a daunting 389 after England took command of the second Test. Robinson smashed a stubborn 97-run partnership between Saud Shakeel and Shane Masood before quickly adding the wicket of Mohammad Rizwan.At tea, Robinson had figures of 4/24 in the innings and took eight wickets for 35 runs in the match.Shakeel produced Pakistan’s strongest batting performance in the innings, hitting 78 to register his second half-century of the series. Meanwhile, Masood scored 26 as the pair frustrated England for almost four hours after Pakistan slumped to 14/3.The partnership came after Robinson and Jofra Archer initially threatened to run through Pakistan’s middle order in poor conditions.

Four wickets brought England within touching distance

Robinson returned with wicketkeeper Jamie Smith taking to the stumps and making an immediate breakthrough. Masood was initially not given out after missing an inswinger, but England reviewed the decision and secured an lbw verdict when the ball hit him in line with the leg stump.Robinson then removed Rizwan for one. The Pakistan batsman tried to strike but missed and was hit in front of the stumps.Shakeel earlier hit his 15th Test half-century off 54 balls, taking an attacking approach while Masood mostly focused on manning the wicket. His 78 remained Pakistan’s highest innings score and briefly raised hopes of an unlikely fightback.England’s bowlers grew increasingly frustrated after lunch as Shakeel and Masood resisted for long, prompting repeated requests for the umpires to check the ball.But Robinson’s return changed the dynamic again.His latest spell not only left England on the brink of victory in the second Test, but also strengthened the statistical case that places him alongside some of the most effective Test bowlers of the modern era.With 99 wickets from 23 Tests and an average hovering around 19.5, Robinson is now just one wicket away from reaching three figures as he sits above Bumrah in the bowling averages list.