Most expensive over bowled in Test cricket became the headline at Edgbaston as India stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah produced one of the most extraordinary batting moments in Test cricket. Stuart Broad, one of England’s most experienced fast bowlers, conceded a record-breaking 35 runs in a single over against Bumrah during the second day of the fifth Test between England and India.
The dramatic over came at a time when Broad had just achieved a major milestone with the ball. The England seamer had become only the sixth bowler in Test history to reach the landmark of 550 wickets. However, his historic achievement was quickly overshadowed when Bumrah launched a stunning counterattack that changed the record books.
Broad’s over included boundaries, a six, a wide and a no-ball, with Bumrah collecting 29 runs himself and another six runs coming through extras. The extraordinary sequence left England stunned and gave India valuable runs at a crucial stage of the innings.
Jasprit Bumrah Creates Test Cricket History
Jasprit Bumrah is primarily known around the world as one of India’s finest fast bowlers. At Edgbaston, however, the stand-in captain showed that he could create damage with the bat as well.
Bumrah walked in as India’s last recognised batter and immediately took the attack to Broad. What followed was an astonishing over that produced a record 35 runs.
Broad’s six legal deliveries went for 23 runs. Bumrah struck four boundaries and one six during those deliveries, putting immense pressure on the England bowler.
The over became even more expensive because Broad also bowled a wide that raced away to the boundary. He then delivered a no-ball, which Bumrah top-edged for another six.
In total, Bumrah scored 29 runs from the over, while six additional runs came through extras. The combined total of 35 runs made it the most expensive over bowled in Test cricket.
Stuart Broad’s Record-Breaking Over Turns Into a Nightmare
The timing of Broad’s expensive over made the incident even more remarkable.
Just before the attack from Bumrah, Broad had celebrated one of the biggest achievements of his Test career. By dismissing Mohammed Shami, Broad reached 550 wickets in Test cricket and became only the sixth bowler to achieve the feat.
Broad had got England the breakthrough when Shami attempted an upper-cut but sent the ball straight to Jack Leach, who was waiting to complete the catch.
For England, it looked like another important moment from one of their most experienced players. Broad’s 550th wicket was a significant milestone and briefly appeared to give the home side some momentum.
But the celebration did not last long.
Bumrah’s arrival completely changed the atmosphere. Instead of allowing England’s bowlers to finish the Indian innings comfortably, the India captain went after Broad with remarkable confidence.
The experienced England seamer suddenly found himself under relentless pressure.
How Jasprit Bumrah Scored 35 Runs From Stuart Broad’s Over
The over became famous because of the unusual combination of boundaries, a six, a no-ball and a wide.
Broad’s six legal deliveries cost him 23 runs. Bumrah hit four fours and a six during those deliveries, constantly finding ways to put the ball away.
The no-ball made matters even worse for England. Bumrah top-edged the delivery and the ball sailed over the boundary for six more runs.
Stuart Broad also bowled a wide that travelled away for four, adding another four runs to the total.
By the time the over was completed, England had conceded 35 runs.
Bumrah had personally contributed 29 of those runs, while six runs were added through extras.
The over immediately entered Test cricket history.
Broad’s Over in Numbers
| Detail | Runs |
|---|---|
| Runs scored by Jasprit Bumrah | 29 |
| Runs from extras | 6 |
| Total runs in the over | 35 |
| Runs from six legal balls | 23 |
| Fours hit by Bumrah | 4 |
| Sixes hit by Bumrah | 2 |
| Previous Test record | 28 runs |
The numbers tell only part of the story. The manner in which Bumrah attacked Broad made the moment even more memorable.
Previous Record of 28 Runs Broken at Edgbaston
Before Bumrah’s extraordinary assault, the record for the most expensive over in Test cricket stood at 28 runs.
That mark had been reached on three separate occasions.
Interestingly, two of those expensive overs involved Broad’s England team-mate James Anderson, while another was bowled by Joe Root.
Broad’s 35-run over comfortably surpassed that previous mark.
The record was particularly surprising because Broad is one of the most experienced bowlers of his generation. He had spent years operating at the highest level of international cricket and had already taken more than 500 Test wickets.
Yet even a bowler with Broad’s experience could not stop Bumrah during that remarkable passage of play.
Michael Atherton Describes the Over as ‘Carnage’
The extraordinary nature of Bumrah’s attack was also reflected in the reaction from former England captain and Sky Sports commentator Michael Atherton.
Atherton described the situation as “carnage” after Bumrah came to the crease.
He was particularly amazed by the way Bumrah attacked Broad and the speed with which the runs came.
The over was unusual even by modern Test cricket standards. Test cricket is generally associated with patience, long spells and careful batting, but Bumrah showed that a lower-order batter can completely change the momentum of an innings in just six legal deliveries.
His approach was fearless, and England’s bowling plans quickly fell apart.
A Record That Could Have Been Even Bigger
Remarkably, Broad’s figures could have been even worse.
During the over, another high full-toss was delivered. There was a possibility that it could have been called, which would have added further runs and potentially made the record even more extraordinary.
However, umpire Aleem Dar did not call the delivery, sparing Broad from another potential setback.
Even without those additional runs, the damage was already severe.
The 35-run over was enough to establish a new record for the most expensive over in Test cricket.
India Resume on 338-7 and Add 78 Runs
The extraordinary over came during a highly productive morning session for India.
The tourists had resumed their innings at 338-7 and managed to add another 78 runs in only 11.5 overs.
England had hoped to wrap up the Indian innings quickly after making progress with the ball. Instead, their bowling plans fell apart during the morning session.
Bumrah’s explosive attack was a major reason for India’s strong finish.
The lower-order contribution meant England had to deal with a much bigger total than they might have expected when the day’s play began.
For India, the late surge was especially valuable because they were already seven wickets down when the morning session started.
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Stuart Broad’s 550th Wicket Overshadowed
Broad’s 550th Test wicket should have been one of the defining moments of the day.
The England fast bowler became only the sixth player in Test history to reach the landmark, underlining his extraordinary longevity and consistency in international cricket.
Mohammed Shami’s dismissal gave Broad the milestone.
Shami attempted to play an upper-cut but could only send the ball towards Jack Leach, who completed the catch.
Broad had every reason to celebrate.
However, the record-breaking over from Bumrah immediately shifted the attention away from the milestone.
Instead of stuart Broad’s 550 wickets being the only major talking point, cricket fans were suddenly discussing the incredible 35-run over.
Bumrah’s Batting Came at the Perfect Time for India
Bumrah’s innings were particularly important because India were close to being bowled out.
When a team is down to its final few wickets in a Test match, every additional run can become extremely valuable.
Rather than simply trying to survive, Bumrah attacked Broad and made the most of the opportunity.
His 29 runs in the over helped India add crucial runs in a short period of time.
The India captain’s aggressive batting also gave his team’s innings a dramatic finish.
It was a reminder that lower-order players can sometimes produce game-changing contributions even when their primary role is with the ball.
Broad Gets the Final Say With Mohammed Siraj’s Dismissal
Despite the nightmare over, Broad did not finish the innings without another contribution.
He was not given an opportunity to make amends against Bumrah with the ball because India’s innings ended during James Anderson‘s next over.
Mohammed Siraj was caught by Broad off Anderson’s bowling, bringing the Indian innings to an end.
That dismissal finally allowed England to close out the innings after what had been a frustrating morning.
Broad’s involvement in the final wicket meant that his day contained both a major personal milestone and one of the most expensive overs ever bowled in Test cricket.
Why the Bumrah-Broad Over Remains Memorable
The record-breaking over at Edgbaston stands out because of everything that happened around it.
Broad had just taken his 550th Test wicket. India were down to their last wicket. Bumrah, primarily recognised as a world-class fast bowler, suddenly turned into an aggressive lower-order batter.
Within six legal deliveries, the match situation changed dramatically.
Four fours, two sixes, a wide and a no-ball combined to produce 35 runs.
It was not simply an expensive over. It was a moment that demonstrated how quickly momentum can shift in Test cricket.
Most Expensive Over Bowled in Test Cricket: What the Record Means
The record of 35 runs underlined the unpredictable nature of Test cricket.
For decades, Test cricket has rewarded patience and discipline, but moments like Bumrah’s assault on Broad show that aggression can also have a huge impact.
Bumrah’s innings became one of those rare occasions when a player managed to rewrite the record books in an unexpected role.
Broad’s experience and 550 Test wickets made the episode even more surprising.
The previous record of 28 runs had already been considered an extraordinary figure. Bumrah’s 35-run assault moved the benchmark significantly higher.
Conclusion
The second day at Edgbaston produced a moment that will remain part of Test cricket history for years to come.
Stuart Broad had every reason to celebrate after becoming only the sixth bowler to reach 550 Test wickets. But moments later, Jasprit Bumrah produced a stunning batting display that completely changed the story.
Bumrah scored 29 runs from Broad’s over, with another six runs coming through extras, as England conceded a record 35 runs.
The previous record of 28 runs had been achieved three times, but Bumrah’s assault pushed the mark to a new level.
Broad’s milestone, India’s strong 78-run addition from 338-7, the explosive over and the eventual dismissal of Mohammed Siraj combined to create one of the most dramatic passages of the Test.
For cricket fans searching for the most expensive over bowled in Test cricket, the answer from this remarkable Edgbaston episode is Stuart Broad’s 35-run over against Jasprit Bumrah.
It was an over that had almost everything — boundaries, sixes, extras, pressure and history — and it turned an otherwise routine end to an innings into one of the most unforgettable moments of the match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who bowled the most expensive over in Test cricket?
Stuart Broad bowled the most expensive over in Test cricket when Jasprit Bumrah scored 35 runs from the over at Edgbaston.
How many runs did Jasprit Bumrah score off Stuart Broad?
Jasprit Bumrah scored 29 runs from Stuart Broad’s record-breaking over.
How many total runs were scored in Broad’s over?
A total of 35 runs were scored from the over, including 29 runs by Bumrah and six runs through extras.
What was the previous record for the most expensive Test over?
The previous record was 28 runs. It had been achieved on three occasions before Bumrah and Broad produced a new record of 35 runs.
How many sixes did Bumrah hit in the over?
Bumrah hit two sixes during the record-breaking over, including one from a no-ball delivery.
