Test cricket is considered the guardian of all forms, and there are significant reasons for it. Due to its unique framework, this format of cricket goes a long way in putting a player’s skill set under check alongside gauging the magnitude of temperament! No doubt, batters also have a tough time dealing with everything that the setup seeks, but it goes without saying that Test cricket imparts serious challenges to the bowlers participating!
Unlike in limited-overs cricket, batters usually grant themselves time in the Test format. What it does is make the day tough for the bowlers as they require to bowl their skills out to get their prey dismissed. But that never kept the greats of the game from delivering stunning performances! Yes, there are multiple occasions when bowlers dominated, and we’re about to unfold that in the next couple of minutes. Keep reading as we discuss the best bowling figures in Test.
Table of Contents
Best Test Bowling Figures Ranking
We’ve all heard that JC Laker is recognized as the best bowling figure in Test cricket history. But is it true, though? To offer a quick glimpse, we’ve created a thorough table illustrating 10 of the Test best bowling figures that cricket fans would love to watch on any given day!
| Rank | Player | Team Played For | Team Played Against | Overs Bowled | Bowling Figure | Economy |
| 1 | JC Laker | England | Australia | 51.2 | 10 for 53 | 1.03 |
| 2 | Anil Kumble | India | Pakistan | 26.3 | 10 for 74 | 2.79 |
| 3 | AY Patel | New Zealand | India | 47.5 | 10 for 119 | 2.48 |
| 4 | GA Lohmann | England | South Africa | 14.2 | 9 for 28 | 2.33 |
| 5 | JC Laker | England | Australia | 16.4 | 9 for 37 | 2.22 |
| 6 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | Zimbabwe | 40 | 9 for 51 | 1.27 |
| 7 | RJ Hadlee | New Zealand | Australia | 23.4 | 9 for 52 | 2.19 |
| 8 | Abdul Qadir | Pakistan | England | 37 | 9 for 56 | 1.51 |
| 9 | DE Malcolm | England | South Africa | 16.3 | 9 for 57 | 3.45 |
| 10 | Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | England | 54.2 | 9 for 65 | 1.19 |
Test Best Bowling Figures: What We Know?
Here are the best test bowling figures worth knowing about:
1. JC Laker (10/53)
Jim Laker, the renowned English arm spinner, kicks off our list of best bowling figures in test innings. England hosted Australia for a test match in Manchester in July 1956. England batted first and scored 459 runs. In pursuit, Australia faltered for 84. Laker finished with nine wickets, but the main show was yet to come. As Australia began their second inning, Jim single-handedly struck out all ten batters, handing England a comfortable victory. Laker has the best bowling figures in test match to date.
2. Anil Kumble (10/74)
At number two, we’ve got the best bowler in India, popular as the Jumbo Anil Kumble. His 10 for 74 against Pakistan stands tall as the best bowling figures any Indian has ever accomplished! Team India met their archrivals Pakistan in February 1999. India batted first and scored 252. Pak then managed 207, with Kumble getting four wickets. India set a goal of 384 after an average batting performance. Then Kumble clicked in! He took ten wickets for 74 as India triumphed by 212 runs.
3. AY Patel (10/119)
Speaking of test bowling records, we now have a Kiwi wrist spinner who made headlines on December 2021. Playing the second test against India, New Zealand was down and out. The host outplayed the visitors in every department. Patel was, however, the only man with different plans. He took all the 10 Indian wickets in the first inning and four in the second. But sadly, that wasn’t enough to seal the victory.
4. GA Lohmann (9/28)
George Lohmann is regarded as one of the greatest red-ball bowlers of all time. Even though he lacked the blistering pace to work with, his ability to swing the ball both ways came in handy on numerous occasions. Lohmann’s 9/28 against South Africa showcases the best bowling in test match.
In the first innings of the test match held back in 1896, Lohmann bowled 14.2 overs and claimed nine wickets. Sammy Woods, in the meantime, grabbed the last wicket as the entire cricket fraternity witnessed test match bowling records being crafted!
5. JC Laker (9/37)
Remember the one who models at the top of the list with a spell considered the best bowling in test? Well, here he is again, sitting at the fifth spot. Same test match, a different inning, but nearly the same outcome. During that match, Laker cruised past the Australian batting line-up, taking 9 of the ten wickets in 16.4 overs. The numbers are majestic, and so was Jim Laker!
6. Muttiah Muralitharan (9/51)
When it comes to Test cricket, Muralitharan still lives as one of the top off-spinners. He proved why while facing Zimbabwe in Kandy. The first inning of the match and Muttiah went all guns blazing. The right-arm off-spinner worked his magic, and in just about 40 overs, Murali dismissed nine batters at the expense of just 51! The result was pretty obvious as Sri Lanka won the match by an innings and 94 runs.
Interesting to note that Muttiah was able to dismiss four batters in the second inning as well. Next-level contribution and Test cricket records bowling at its best!
7. RJ Hadlee (9/52)
When we list the best in business, the Kiwi veteran RJ Hadlee is positioned as one of the top Test bowlers. Richard’s bowling effort in the first inning of the test match against Australia in the 1985-86 tour was a tale worth reliving repeatedly. In total, he bowled 23.4 overs claiming nine wickets. Hadlee continued his merry way, walking past batters in the second innings.
8. Abdul Qadir (9/56)
Pakistan has never failed to produce the best test bowlers, and Abdul Qadir lives in the hearts of many as one of them!
Let’s travel back in time to 1987-88. Lahore was the site of the test match as England was set to compete against Pakistan. First Inning and the whole nation lit up! Qadir bowled 37 overs in total, and the spell was magical. It included a run of 13 maiden overs and went for just 56 runs at a meager economy rate of just 1.51. That’s some impressive numbers to go alongside nine wickets. Yes, 9 of them for just 56. WOW!
9. DE Malcolm (9/57)
Sheer Pace and Bounce, that’s how we can define what Malcolm used to bring to the field! He had a stellar run for England during his whole playing career, but how his performances came together against South Africa in 1994 has a special allure.
It was the second inning of the match, and the Oval witnessed history being made. In his 16.3 overs of bowling, he managed to take nine wickets for 57 runs. Darren Gough got the better of the remaining batsman and prevented Malcolm from claiming the best bowling figure!
10. Muttiah Muralitharan (9/65)
At number 10, we’ve got the Lakan magician, yet again, Muttiah Muralitharan. He goes by the tag of best test bowler of all time, deservedly so. His performance against England is one of the many instances that justifies the fact.
It was 1998, and the whole England team had no idea how to play along the phase that Murali took charge of. In the first inning, he took 7 for 155. The numbers kept improving, as Murali dominated the whole batting lineup in the second inning, grasping 9 for just 65. It was a pleasure for the cricketing sphere and a nightmare for English cricket!
How to Bet on Test Best Bowling Figures?
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Summary
That wraps up the tale revolving around the best bowling figures in the history of test cricket. If you’ve made it until this point, you’ve probably figured out the best test bowler. Given how fierce the battle for the title is, that’s quite an accomplishment!
Even if decoding the finest in business hardly bothers you, learning about the best test bowlers is never a useless idea. Not only will the information in this article help you develop a better grasp of the game, but it will also be useful in making profitable predictions. Speaking of that, we at Parimatch ensure that betting online occurs in a breeze.
FAQ
What are the best bowling figures in Test innings?
10 for 53 in 51.2 overs. Jim Laker’s ten-wicket haul against Australia at a scintillating economy of 1.03 continues to be the best bowling figures in a Test inning.
Has anyone taken 20 wickets in a Test match?
No. Laker’s 19 wickets in a Test match at Old Trafford Cricket Ground is the most by any bowler in the history of Test cricket.
Who is the best bowler in the world?
Muttiah Muralitharan. With a rating of 1320.4, Sri Lanka’s spin-magician Muttiah Muralitharan sits at the top of Wisden’s best bowlers’ list.
Who is the current fastest bowler?
Mitchell Starc. With a top speed of 160.4 Kph, the Aussie pacer can be considered the fastest bowler in the current lot.
Which bowler has the longest run-up?
Matthew Hunt (UK) has the longest male bowling run-up. On April 24, 2022, in Bath, Somerset, his run-up measured nearly 7.17 kilometers.