Stats: Bowlers with 9 or more wickets in a Test innings since the 90s

Tags: Bowlers

Published on: Aug 17, 2014

Over the last couple of decades, with Test pitches the world over getting more and more batsman-friendly, instances of bowlers claiming nine wickets in a Test innings has become very rare

Over the last couple of decades, with Test pitches the world over getting more and more batsman-friendly, instances of bowlers claiming nine wickets in a Test innings has become very rare, while it was a lot more frequent from the 1950s to the 1970s. When Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Rangana Herath claimed nine wickets against Pakistan in the first innings of Mahela Jayawardene’s farewell Test at the SSC, he became the first bowler since his predecessor Muttiah Muralitharan in 2002 to do so. A look at instances where bowlers have claimed nine wickets or more in a Test, since the advent of the 1990s.


Devon Malcolm: 9 for 57 against South Africa at The Oval in August 1994: Malcolm was the star of the show in England’s eight-wicket win over South Africa in the third Test of the series at The Oval. South Africa and England had both managed 300 plus scores in their respective first innings. Thus, it all came down to the second-innings performance. Malcolm roared in and made the massive difference as South Africa were knocked over for 175 in their second essay. His big victims included those of Kirsten brothers, Cronje, Wessels and McMillan. In fact, the only wicket he didn’t claim was that of Daryll Cullinan. Set 204, England went on to win the Test by eight wickets.


Muttiah Muralitharan: 9 for 65 against England at The Oval in August 1998: This israted among Sri Lanka’s best ever Test wins, as it came against a strong England opponent and, at a time, when Lanka were still trying to establish themselves at the Test level. In spite of Murali’s seven-for in the first innings, England raked up 445 batting first. But, thanks to Sanath Jayasuriya’s double hundred and a big century by Aravinda De Silva, Murali got a second chance to put the English under pressure, and this time, he seized the opportunity with both hands. Except England skipper Alec Stewart, who was run out, Murali squeezed out every other wicket, and cleaned up England for 181. The result was a 10-wicket triumph for the visitors.


Anil Kumble: 10 for 74 against Pakistan at Delhi in February 1999: Indians would never forget this performance by their legendary former leg spinner. Although Pakistan were set a massive 420 to win in this Test, they got off to a blazing start courtesy Shahid Afridi and Saeed Anwar, who added 101 for the opening wicket in 24 overs. India had the close loss at Chennai in their heads, but Kumble helped erase those memories by sending back one batsman after the other using his skills. Pakistan crumbed to 207 all out, with India winning by 212 runs.


Muttiah Muralitharan: 9 for 51 against Zimbabwe at Kandy in January 2002: The minnows were no match for the hosts in this Test. Zimbabwe batted first and crumbled to 236 as Murali claimed everyone from the Flower brothers to Gavin Rennie, Stuart Carlisle and even Heath Streak. Chaminda Vaas took the only other wicket of Henry Olonga. Murali added four more wickets in his second innings as Lanka won the match by an innings and 94 runs.


--By A Cricket Analyst

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