Best Test Bowling Sequences

 

These sequences are not, for the most part, whole spells. Unless otherwise stated, all sequences took place as part of one bowling spell.

 

10/49 (292 balls) JC Laker 10/53 Eng v Aus Manchester  1956

 

9/16  (46 balls) JC Laker 9/37   Eng v Aus Manchester  1956

 

8/4  (~44 balls) GA Lohmann 8/7  Eng v SA Johannesburg 1895/96

8/6  (~95 balls) LR Gibbs 8/38 WI v Ind Bridgetown 1961/62

8/10  (~52 balls) J Briggs 8/11 Eng v SA Cape Town 1888/89

 

8/19  (including 4 overthrows, 78 balls) GD McGrath 8/24 Aus v Pak Perth 2004/05

 

7/1  (32 balls)  CEL Ambrose 7/25 WI v Aus Perth   1992/93

7/2  (~28 balls) GA Lohmann  8/7 Eng v SA Johannesburg 1895/96

7/4  (7/1, plus 3 nb) (33 deliveries) Sarfraz Nawaz  9/86 Pak v Aus Melbourne  1978/79

7/5  (~90 balls) LR Gibbs 8/38 WI v Ind Bridgetown 1961/62

7/8  (22 balls)  JC Laker  9/37 Eng v Aus Manchester  1956

7/9  (~44 balls) J Briggs 8/11 Eng v SA Cape Town 1888/89

7/9  (~25 balls) MA Noble 7/17 Aus v Eng Melbourne 1901/02


6/0  (18 balls) JJC Lawson 6/3 WI v Bangladesh Dhaka 2001/02

6/4  (24 balls) FS Trueman 7/44 Eng v WI Birmingham 1963

6/4  (33 balls) PCR Tufnell 6/25 Eng v WI The Oval 1991
6/5  (~20 balls) MA Noble 7/17 Aus v Eng Melbourne 1901/02

6/5  (47 balls) FS Trueman 6/30 Eng v Aus Leeds 1961
6/6  (45 balls)  S Haigh 6/11  Eng v SA Cape Town  1898/99

6/6  (37 balls) W Rhodes 7/17 Eng v Aus Birmingham 1902

6/7  (29 balls) Waqar Younis 6/55 Pak v Ban 2001/02

6/7  (29 balls) MJ Clarke 6/9 Aus v Ind 2004/05

6/8  (~36 balls) J Briggs 8/11 Eng v SA Cape Town 1888/89

6/8  (7 overs) R Peel 6/23 The Oval 1896

6/8  (20 balls) H Trumble 7/28 Melbourne 1903/04

6/8  (41 balls) GA Faulkner SA v Eng Leeds 1907

6/8  (28 balls)  SJ Pegler  7/65 SA v Eng Lord's  1912

6/8  (36 balls)  H Ironmonger 6/18 Aus v SA Melbourne  1931/32

6/8  (68 balls) GD McGrath 6/17 Aus v WI Brisbane 2000/01

6/9  (6/7, plus 2 nb)(40 deliveries) 6/7 AER Gilligan Eng v SA Birmingham 1924

6/9  (56 balls)  CV Grimmett  7/83 Aus v SA Adelaide  1931/32

6/9  (43 balls) S Ramadhin 7/49 WI v Eng Birmingham 1957

6/9  (71b) DL Underwood 8/51 Eng v Pak Lord’s 1974

6/10  (28 balls) RO Schwarz 6/47 SA v Aus Sydney 1910/11 (2 spells)

6/10  (43 balls) H Verity 8/43 Eng v Aus Lord’s 1934

6/10  (92 balls) HJ Tayfield 6/13 Johannesburg SA v NZ 1953/54




5/0  (32 balls) HJ Tayfield 6/13 Johannesburg SA v NZ 1953/54

5/0  (24 balls) FS Trueman 6/30 Eng v Aus Leeds 1961
5/0  (~36 balls) LR Gibbs 8/38 WI v Ind Bridgetown 1961/62

5/0  (18 balls)   BKV Prasad  6/33 Ind v Pak Chennai  1998/99

5/0  (13 balls)  Waqar Younis 6/55 Pak v Ban 2001/02

 

5/1  (17 balls)  GR Hazlitt 7/25 Aus v Eng The Oval  1912
5/1  (28 balls)  IT Botham 5/11  Eng v Aus Birmingham  1981

5/2 (~25 balls) WJ O’Reilly 5/14, Aus v NZ Wellington 1945/46

5/2  (19 balls)  ERH Toshack  5/2 Aus v Ind Brisbane  1947/48

5/2 (21 balls) Mitchell Johnson 8/61 v SAf Perth 2008/09

5/2  (28 balls) GD McGrath 6/17 Aus v WI Brisbane 2000/01

5/2  (31 balls) GD McGrath 5/53 Aus v Eng Lord’s 2005

5/2  (39 balls) SLV Raju, Ind v SL 6/12 Chandigarh, 1990/91

 

5/3  (17 balls)  H Ironmonger 5/6 Aus v SA Melbourne  1931/32

5/3  (~21 balls)  H Ironmonger 6/18 Aus v SA Melbourne  1931/32

5/3  (49 balls) CV Grimmett Aus v SA Durban 1935/36
5/3  (14 balls) JC Laker  9/37 Eng v Aus Manchester  1956

5/3  (29 balls) MHN Walker 6/15 Aus v Pak Sydney 1972/73

5/3  (5/1, plus 2 nb) (17 deliveries) 9/86 Sarfraz Nawaz  Pak v Aus Melbourne  1978/79

5/3  (25 balls) Imran Khan 8/60 Pak v Ind Karachi 1982/83

 

5/4  (~28 balls) J Briggs 8/11 Eng v SA Cape Town 1888/89

5/4  (32 balls) W Rhodes 7/17 Eng v Aus Birmingham 1902

5/4  (21 balls) Kapil Dev 8/106 Ind v Aus Adelaide 1985/86

 

5/5  (7 overs) H Trumble 6/53 Aus v Eng Manchester 1902

5/5  (43 balls) WW Armstrong 6/35 Aus v Eng Lord’s 1909

5/5  (21 balls) RO Schwarz 6/47 SA v Aus Sydney 1910/11

5/5  (66 balls) WJ O’Reilly 5/20 Aus v SA Johannesburg 1935/36

5/5  (34 balls) JE Emburey 6/33 Eng v SL Colombo (PSS) 1981/82

5/5  (32 balls) TBA May 5/9 Aus v WI Adelaide 1992/93

5/5  (22 balls) SK Warne 7/56 Aus v SA Sydney 1993/94

5/5  (18 balls) IR Bishop 5/32 WI v Eng Leeds 1995

5/5  (including 1 no-ball, 15 deliveries) AR Caddick 5/14 Eng v WI Leeds 2000

5/5  (25 balls) Shoaib Akhtar 5/21 Pak v Aus Colombo(PSS) 2002/03

5/5  (including 2 nb, 17 deliveries) Shoaib Akhtar 6/50 Pak v Ban Peshawar 2003/04

 

5/7  (including 4 overthrows, 31 balls) GD McGrath 8/24 Aus v Pak Perth 2004/05

 

 

Hazlitt’s 5/1 came from the last 17 balls he bowled in Test cricket.

 

I have not included subsets of listed sequences unless they involved fewer runs than the whole sequence. For example, Ambrose naturally recorded 5/1 and 6/1 as part of his record spell, but these are not listed separately.

 

 

Quickest five-hauls

 

Balls

Runs

13

0

Waqar Younis 6/55 Pak v Ban 2001/02

approx

13

5

MA Noble 7/17 Aus v Eng Melbourne 1901/02

14

0

JJC Lawson 6/3 WI v Bangladesh Dhaka 2001/02

14

3

JC Laker 9/37   Eng v Aus Manchester  1956

15

5

including 1 nb, AR Caddick 5/14 Eng v WI Leeds 2000

17

3

H Ironmonger 5/6 Aus v SA Melbourne 1931/32

17

3

including 2 nb, Sarfraz Nawaz  9/86 Pak v Aus Melbourne  1978/79

17

1

GR Hazlitt 7/25 Aus v Eng The Oval  1912

17

5

including 2 nb, Shoaib Akhtar 6/50 Pak v Ban Peshawar 2003/04

17

4

FS Trueman 7/44 Eng v WI Birmingham 1963

17

5

Shoaib Akhtar 6/50 Pak v Ban Peshawar 2003/04

18

0

BKV Prasad  6/33 Ind v Pak Chennai  1998/99

18

5

IR Bishop 5/32 WI v Eng Leeds 1995

approx

18

2

GA Lohmann 8/7  Eng v SA Johannesburg 1895/96

19

7

H Trumble 7/28  Aus v Eng Melbourne 1903/04

19

7

AA Mailey 9/121 Aus v Eng Melbourne 1920/21

19

2

ERH Toshack  5/2 Aus v Ind Brisbane  1947/48

 

 

Fast First-class Triple Centuries

 

Macartney 1921

Woolley 1912

Rutherford 1986

Richards 1985

GC Smith 2005

Trumper 1914

Compton 1948

Lara 1994

Bradman 1930

345(343) off 274 balls

305* off 235 balls

317 off 245 balls

322 off 258 balls

311 off 255 balls

293(294) off 252 balls

300 off 262 balls

501* off 427 balls

452* off 465 balls

50 runs

55

28

64

63

55

80

55

100 runs

98

93

98

105

88

110

94

138

122

150 runs

123

134

152

140

158

193

170

200 runs

156

160

193

181

173

184

201

220

209

250 runs

186

191

215

213

226

245

264

300 runs

221

230

234

244

249

261

278

311

350 runs

311

359

400 runs

367

407

450 runs

398

465

500 runs

427

 

Note : Bradman’s 369 v Tasmania in 1935/36 (300 in 213 minutes) would figure on this list, but balls faced are unknown.

 

 

Most Runs in a Two-Hour (maximum) Session – Test matches

 

236 (43 overs) Aus v SA, Lunch-Tea, Joburg 1921 (119 off 85 balls by Jack Gregory)

233 (41 overs) Eng v Pak, Lunch-Tea, Nottingham 1954 (Denis Compton 173)

231 (45 overs) Eng v NZ, Lunch-tea 3rd day, Leeds 1949 (both teams batted)

223 (43 overs) Eng v SA, Lunch-Tea, Lord’s 1924

220 (47 overs) Eng v NZ, Lunch-Tea, Wellington 1933 (Wally Hammond 150)

216 (28 overs) Pak v Ind, lunch-tea, Lahore 2006 (two teams)

208 (32 overs, 100 minutes) Aus v SA, lunch-tea, Sydney 1910/11

208 (34 eight-ball overs) WI v Eng, The Oval 1939 (KH Weekes 113)

207 (29 overs) Aus v Zimbabwe Lunch-Tea Perth 2003 (both Matt Hayden and Adam Gilchrist scored centuries in the session)

201 (38 overs) Aus v SA, before lunch 3rd day, Johannesburg 1902 (1st Test), (Clem Hill 116 runs)

 

 

Most Runs in a Longer Session

249 (33 overs) SA v Zim, post-tea 1st day, Cape Town 2005

244 (58 overs, 165 minutes), Eng v Aus, post-tea, Oval 1921

239 (45 overs, 140 minutes), Eng v NZ, pre-lunch, Lord’s 1937 (two teams)

236 (35 overs, 160 minutes) Eng v Aus, post-tea, Edgbaston 2001 (two teams)

227 (150 minutes) Eng v India, pre-Lunch, Manchester 1936

223 (35 overs, 150 minutes) Eng v Ban, post-tea, Chester-le-Street 2005 (Marcus Trescothick 127)

221 (150 minutes) Eng v SA, pre-Lunch, Oval 1935 (Les Ames 123) 3rd day

219 (35 overs, 150 minutes) NZ v Zimbabwe, post-Tea, Harare 2005 (Daniel Vettori 127)

~210 (150 minutes) Eng v India, pre-Lunch, Oval 1936

209 (150 minutes) SAf v Eng, pre-lunch, Oval 1929

208 (47 overs, 154 minutes) Aus v SA, post-tea, Melbourne 1910/11 (Victor Trumper 133)

208 (150 minutes) Aus v SA, pre-Lunch, Lord’s 1912 (Warren Bardsley 118)

203 (150 minutes) Eng v SA, pre-Lunch, Oval 1935 (two teams, 2nd day)

200 (57 overs, 150 minutes) Eng v SA, pre-Lunch, Lord’s 1924

 

Note that prior to 1940, tea break timings, and lengths of afternoon sessions, were rather variable. Prior to 1915, tea breaks often did not take place if there was a change of innings after lunch; tea was incorporated into the change of innings. Sometimes this resulted in a long extension of one session and shortening of another. Prior to 1900, tea breaks often did not take place at all. In most series in England from 1899 to 1949, pre-lunch sessions were normally 150 minutes, except on the first day.

 

 

Most Runs in a Session (Individuals)

173       DCS Compton (278) Eng v Pak  Nottingham  1954 (lunch-tea)

150       WR Hammond (336*) Eng v NZ   Auckland 1932-33 (lunch-tea)**

140       IDS Smith (173)   NZ v Ind   Auckland 1989-90 (tea-close)

139       NJ Astle 222 NZ v Eng Christchurch 2002 (tea-close)

133       VT Trumper 159 Aus v RSA Melbourne 1910-11 (tea-close: 154min session)

127       ME Trescothick 165 Eng v Ban Chester-le-Street 2005 (tea-close) (about 140 mins)

127       SJ McCabe  232 Aus v Eng  Nottingham  1938 (lunch-tea)

127       DL Vettori 127 NZ v Zim Harare 2005 (tea-close: 150 min session)

123       LEG Ames 148* Eng v RSA The Oval 1935 (pre-lunch: 150 min session)

122       CA Roach 209 Georgetown 1929-30 (tea-close, 105 mins)

121       R Benaud 121 Aus v WI  Kingston 1954-55 (lunch-tea)

 

**Close analysis of the scoresheet suggests that Hammond may have scored 151 or 152 runs in the session. However, there are anomalies in the score.

 

Longest Bowling Spells (where known)

 

354 balls (59 overs) Hirwani at the Oval 1990.

352 balls (44 eight-ball overs), AMB Rowan, Durban 1948/49.

328 balls (41 eight-ball overs) GS Sobers MCG 1960/61.

322 balls (53.4 overs) Hugh Tayfield, Saf v Eng, The Oval 1955.

312 balls (52 overs) Tom Veivers Calcutta 1964

308 balls (51.2 overs) Tom Veivers Manchester 1964.

300 balls (50 overs) George Giffen, Sydney 1894/95.

300 balls (50 overs) Mohammad Nazir, Pak vs Ind, Nagpur 1983/84.

 

See also Ramadhin and Valentine at the Gabba 1951, below.

 

Two bowlers unchanged (six-ball overs):

 

86 overs, S Ramadhin and AL Valentine, Lord’s 1950

79 overs, W Rhodes and WE Astill, Georgetown 1930

75 overs, DA Allen and GAR Lock, Calcutta 1961/62

73 overs, S Ramadhin and AL Valentine, Christchurch 1952.

 

At the ’Gabba in 1951, Ramadhin (40) and Valentine (40.7) bowled 80.7 out of the last 81.7 eight-ball overs, with only a change of ends after about 16 overs.

 

 

Most Balls Before First Wicket in Tests

 

AG Kripal Singh: 651 balls. Kripal Singh was regarded as an all-rounder, but his bowling in Tests never made the grade. He took his first wicket in 1961-62, in his 10th innings of bowling for India, conceding 235 runs up to that point. His first wicket was Geoff Pullar.

 

RGCE Wijesuriya: 561 balls (thanks to Shahzad Khan for the info). He bowled only 25 more balls in Tests. He “beat” JJ Warr’s record bowling average in the 1980s, finishing on 294.00.

 

JJ Warr: 551 balls. Warr’s unsought fame lies in his career bowling average of 281.00. His only wicket, Ian Johnson, came in his last Test in 1951.

 

IM Chappell: 536 balls. Chappell became an occasionally useful part-time spinner, but he didn’t have much luck early.

 

PR Umrigar: 500-550 balls, hard to be more precise with this one.

 

JC Alabaster: 510-522 balls. Most highly rated bowler on this list. Took 49 Test wickets. His susequent strike rate was 71 balls per wicket.

 

Honourable mention: Kerry O’Keeffe became a respected bowler for a while in the Australian team, but he didn’t take a wicket until he had bowled 442 balls.

 

The longest wicket-free bowling career was JL Hopwood of England, 462 balls in 1934.

 

 

Longest without New Ball

 

185 overs India v W Indies Bridgetown 1961-62*

177 overs NZ v WI Wellington 1986/87

161 overs South Africa V Zimbabwe Harare 2001/02

148 overs England v India Kanpur 1963/64

 

Prior to 1965, the new ball was only available after 200 runs were scored(depending on the country where the Test was played). Since India only scored 187 runs in these 185 overs, the new ball was not available during the innings.

 


Most Balls Faced without Scoring (where known)

 

Balls without scoring

On

Minutes

~95

45

B Mitchell (58)    SA v AU   Brisbane     1931-32

90

85

56

B Mitchell (73)    SA v EN  Johannesburg 1938-39

60

78-82

1

TE Bailey (8)     EN v SA   Leeds        1955

79

79

0

JT Murray (3*)  EN v AU        Sydney        1962-63

74

77

0

GI Allott (0)      NZ  v  SA       Auckland     1998-99

101

~75

24

WH Scotton (34)   EN v AU    The Oval     1886

67

74

0

CG Rackemann (9) AU v EN    Sydney        1990-91

72

72-75

0

AC Bannerman (4)  AU v EN    Sydney       1886-87

60

68

9

RJ Shastri (23)   IN v SA   Johannesburg 1992-93

89

67

114

C Washbrook (114) En v WI Lord's 1950

50

66

10

DR Jardine (24)   EN v AU    Brisbane     1932-33

63

65

1

JJ Crowe (21)     NZ v WI  Bridgetown   1984-85

91

 

Notes: Geoff Allott faced 90 consecutive balls in all without scoring, spanning three innings. MC Snedden batted for 94 minutes without scoring at Wellington 1989/90, but reportedly faced only 54 balls. In 1881, George Giffen took about 63 balls to get off the mark in his Test debut.

 

 

Most Balls without Scoring       (Teams)

 

92                   England v West Indies, Lord's 1950 - 2nd Inns

During the final stage of a famous West Indies victory, England tailenders Wardle and Jenkins faced 15 consecutive maiden overs from four bowlers.

88-92              Australia v England, Melbourne (MCG) 1882 - 1st Inns

Alec Bannerman and Bill Murdoch faced 22 maiden (4-ball) overs from  Barnes, Barlow and Bates.

81                   New Zealand v England, Leeds (Headingley) 1958 - 2nd Inns

Faced mostly by John Reid and Bert Sutcliffe (0 from 51 balls) off Lock and Laker

79                   England v India, Madras 1964 - 1st Inns

Bolus and Barrington around lunch on the 3rd day, during Bapu Nadkarni’s record 21 consecutive maidens. Borde and Kripal Singh also bowled.

77                   England v West Indies, Lord's 1950 - 1st Inns

The same team and match as the #1 spot. Ramadhin and Valentine bowled. Bill Edrich scored one run off his first 84 balls faced in this innings.

74                   Pakistan v England, Lord's 1954 - 1st Inns

Hanif Mohammad scored 20 off 223 balls in this innings, the slowest innings of its size known. Laker and Wardle were the bowlers.

74                   Australia v South Africa, Johannesburg (New Wanderers) 1957 - 2nd Inns

‘Slasher’ Mackay and Peter Burge off Tayfield, VI Smith and Goddard.

71                   West Indies v England, Birmingham (Edgbaston) 1957 - 2nd Inns

The Three ‘W’s, believe it or not (Worrell, Walcott, Weekes). This was in the aftermath of the record partnership of Cowdrey and May.

70                   England v Australia, Leeds (Headingley) 1961 - 1st Inns

Dexter, Barrington and Murray off Benaud and Davidson. The first eleven overs of the second day were maidens.

68                   England v West Indies, Bridgetown, Barbados 1953 - 1st Inns

Hutton and Graveney off five different bowlers.

67                   Australia v England, Sydney (SCG) 1884 - 1st Inns

Bannerman and Jones. Quite uncertain about this one.

67                   New Zealand v England, Auckland 1962 - 1st Inns

Three batsmen off four bowlers.

 

Most of the above instances contained sundries. The highest-ranks on the list that definitely contained no sundries is the fourth (79 balls at Madras 1964)