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We are going to show you the top 20 best bowling figures in Test cricket history, where bowlers became like superheroes on the field. Think of Jim Laker, who made England so proud long ago, or Washington Sundar, who amazed us more recently. These bowlers took wickets and changed games in ways that people still talk about. By reading this, you will find out exactly where and when these incredible moments happened. We feel excited just thinking about their amazing skills.
Test cricket is a game that can go on for five days, with each team batting twice. It is tough and long, and bowlers are the ones who can win it for their side. They have to get the other team’s batsmen out, and when they do it well, it is something special. The bowlers in this list, from old stars like Jim Laker to new ones like Ajaz Patel, showed what it means to be great. Their performances turned matches upside down, and we can’t wait to share their stories with you.
What Bowling Figures Mean
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Bowling figures tell us how good a bowler was in one part of a Test match. They show two numbers: how many wickets the bowler took and how many runs they let the other team score. For example, if a bowler gets 5 wickets and gives away 30 runs, we write it as 5/30. When a bowler takes lots of wickets and keeps the runs low, it means they were really strong that day. The best bowling figures in Test cricket are all about showing this kind of power and control over the game.
These figures are a big deal because they tell us how much a bowler helped their team. In Test cricket, where every wicket and run counts, a great performance can decide who wins. A bowler who gets many batsmen out without letting them score much can turn everything around. That’s why the top 20 best bowling figures in Test cricket matter so much. They show us moments when bowlers were at their very best, making history with every ball they bowled.
Top 20 Best Bowling Figures in Test Cricket
Now, we bring you the list of the top 20 best bowling figures in Test cricket. This is a record of times when bowlers did something amazing in just one innings. You will see their names, how many wickets they took, how many runs they gave, who they played against, where it happened, and what year it was. From old heroes to new talents, these are the best moments that show what bowlers can do. It’s like a treasure chest of cricket greatness waiting for us to open.
Here is the table with all 20 best bowling figures in Test cricket:
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Rank | Bowler | Figures | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jim Laker (England) | 10/53 | Australia | Old Trafford | 1956 |
| 2 | Anil Kumble (India) | 10/74 | Pakistan | Feroz Shah Kotla | 1999 |
| 3 | Ajaz Patel (New Zealand) | 10/119 | India | Wankhede | 2021 |
| 4 | George Lohmann (England) | 9/28 | South Africa | Johannesburg | 1896 |
| 5 | Jim Laker (England) | 9/37 | Australia | Old Trafford | 1956 |
| 6 | Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) | 9/51 | Zimbabwe | Kandy | 2002 |
| 7 | Richard Hadlee (New Zealand) | 9/52 | Australia | Brisbane | 1985 |
| 8 | Abdul Qadir (Pakistan) | 9/56 | England | Lahore | 1987 |
| 9 | Devon Malcolm (England) | 9/57 | South Africa | The Oval | 1994 |
| 10 | Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) | 9/65 | England | The Oval | 1998 |
| 11 | Johnny Briggs (England) | 8/11 | South Africa | Cape Town | 1889 |
| 12 | Sarfraz Nawaz (Pakistan) | 9/86 | Australia | Melbourne | 1979 |
| 13 | JM Noriega (West Indies) | 9/95 | India | Port of Spain | 1971 |
| 14 | Subhash Gupte (India) | 9/102 | West Indies | Kanpur | 1958 |
| 15 | Sydney Barnes (England) | 9/103 | South Africa | Johannesburg | 1913 |
| 16 | Hugh Tayfield (South Africa) | 9/113 | England | Johannesburg | 1957 |
| 17 | Arthur Mailey (Australia) | 9/121 | England | Melbourne | 1921 |
| 18 | Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka) | 9/127 | Pakistan | Colombo (SSC) | 2014 |
| 19 | Keshav Maharaj (South Africa) | 9/129 | Sri Lanka | Colombo (SSC) | 2018 |
| 20 | Washington Sundar (India) | 7/59 | New Zealand | Pune | 2024 |
Bowlers with 10 Wickets in an Innings
Taking all 10 wickets in one innings is super rare and amazing. Jim Laker from England did it first in 1956 against Australia at Old Trafford. His figures were 10/53, meaning he got every batsman out and only gave away 53 runs. He used off-spin, where the ball turns in a tricky way, and the Australians couldn’t hit it. England won that match by a lot—an innings and 170 runs. It was a day that made us cheer for Laker’s unbelievable talent.
Two other bowlers joined this special group. Anil Kumble from India took 10/74 against Pakistan in 1999 at Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi. His leg-spin made the ball bounce and spin so much that Pakistan had no chance, and India won by 212 runs. Then, in 2021, Ajaz Patel from New Zealand got 10/119 against India at Wankhede in Mumbai. Even though India won by 372 runs, Patel’s spin bowling was something we won’t forget. These three show the best bowling figures in Test cricket.
Amazing 9-Wicket Performances
Getting 9 wickets in an innings is almost as great as 10, and some bowlers did it perfectly. George Lohmann from England took 9/28 against South Africa in 1896 at Johannesburg. He used seam and swing, moving the ball in the air and off the ground, to get the batsmen out fast. England won by an innings and 197 runs. Jim Laker also took 9/37 in the same 1956 match against Australia at Old Trafford where he got 10 in the other innings. That game was all about him.
Muttiah Muralitharan from Sri Lanka got 9/51 against Zimbabwe in 2002 at Kandy. His spin bowling was so good that Zimbabwe couldn’t score, and Sri Lanka won by an innings and 94 runs. Richard Hadlee from New Zealand took 9/52 against Australia in 1985 at Brisbane. He bowled fast and made the ball swing, helping New Zealand win by an innings and 41 runs. These moments are part of the best bowling figures in Test cricket, and we love how they changed their matches.
More Great Bowling Moments
Other bowlers have their own big moments in this list. Abdul Qadir from Pakistan took 9/56 against England in 1987 at Lahore. His leg-spin was too tricky, and Pakistan won by an innings and 87 runs. Devon Malcolm from England got 9/57 against South Africa in 1994 at The Oval. After getting hit on the helmet, he bowled super fast and fierce, leading England to an 8-wicket win. These performances make us feel the thrill of the best bowling figures in Test cricket.
Johnny Briggs from England took 8/11 against South Africa in 1889 at Cape Town, one of the smallest figures ever. It helped England win big back then. Sarfraz Nawaz from Pakistan got 9/86 against Australia in 1979 at Melbourne, showing his skill. Washington Sundar from India took 7/59 against New Zealand in 2024 at Pune, proving new bowlers can shine too. All these different times and places show how the best bowling figures in Test cricket keep happening over the years.
Jim Laker Stands Tall
Jim Laker’s 10/53 is still the top of the best bowling figures in Test cricket. It happened in 1956, and no one has beaten it yet. His skill with the ball, the way the pitch helped, and his smart planning made it perfect. Other bowlers like Muttiah Muralitharan with his spin or Richard Hadlee with his swing had their own great days too. Each time they bowled like this, it was about talent and knowing how to use the game’s conditions. We feel proud looking at these records.
Today, bowlers like Ravichandran Ashwin from India, Nathan Lyon from Australia, and Shaheen Afridi from Pakistan are playing Test cricket. They are very good and might get into this top 20 list one day. With more matches happening and different pitches around the world, new names could join the best bowling figures in Test cricket. For now, Jim Laker’s name is the one we see at the top, and it makes us think of how special these moments are.