Test Cricket is the longest format of the game and is played over five days. It challenged both batters and bowlers with its tough conditions and slow pace. In this format, bowlers play a huge role where they have to take 20 wickets to end the game in two separate innings, repeating the process over the long five days in varying conditions. Over the years, several bowlers have delivered outstanding performances, but one record stands above the rest. England’s Jim Laker holds the best bowling figures in Test cricket, taking 10 wickets for just 53 runs against Australia in 1956.
Following him on the list is India’s Anil Kulble, who also picked up all 10 wickets in an innings, finishing with 10/74 against Pakistan in 1999. New Zealand’s Ajaz Patel joins them with a 10-wicket haul against India in 2021. While these three players top the list, many other bowlers have also produced some incredible spells over time. Today, we will be looking at the list of players with the best bowling figures in Test cricket and learn how they performed in those matches.
List of players with the Best Bowling figures in Test cricket
| Player | Wkts | Overs | BPO | Mdns | Runs | Econ | Inns | Opposition | Ground | Start Date |
| JC Laker (ENG) | 10 | 51.2 | 6 | 23 | 53 | 1.03 | 3 | vs Australia | Manchester | 26 Jul 1956 |
| A Kumble (IND) | 10 | 26.3 | 6 | 9 | 74 | 2.79 | 4 | vs Pakistan | Delhi | 4 Feb 1999 |
| AY Patel (NZ) | 10 | 47.5 | 6 | 12 | 119 | 2.48 | 1 | vs India | Wankhede | 3 Dec 2021 |
| GA Lohmann (ENG) | 9 | 14.2 | 5 | 6 | 28 | 2.33 | 2 | vs South Africa | Johannesburg | 2 Mar 1896 |
| JC Laker (ENG) | 9 | 16.4 | 6 | 4 | 37 | 2.22 | 2 | vs Australia | Manchester | 26 Jul 1956 |
| M Muralidaran (SL) | 9 | 40.0 | 6 | 19 | 51 | 1.27 | 1 | vs Zimbabwe | Kandy | 4 Jan 2002 |
| Sir RJ Hadlee (NZ) | 9 | 23.4 | 6 | 4 | 52 | 2.19 | 1 | vs Australia | Brisbane | 8 Nov 1985 |
| Abdul Qadir (PAK) | 9 | 37.0 | 6 | 13 | 56 | 1.51 | 1 | vs England | Lahore | 25 Nov 1987 |
| DE Malcolm (ENG) | 9 | 16.3 | 6 | 2 | 57 | 3.45 | 3 | vs South Africa | The Oval | 18 Aug 1994 |
| M Muralidaran (SL) | 9 | 54.2 | 6 | 27 | 65 | 1.19 | 3 | vs England | The Oval | 27 Aug 1998 |
Top 5 Bowling Figures in Test cricket
1. Jim Laker (10/53 vs Australia, 1956)
Jim Laker holds the best bowling figures in Test cricket history. He took all 10 wickets in the third innings of the match against Australia at Old Trafford, Manchester. His spin bowling was utmost unplayable as the Aussies struggled to even stay at the crease. He gave away only 53 runs in 51.2 overs, including 23 maidens. With his incredible performance in this match, Jim helped England win by an innings of 170 runs.
2. Anil Kumble(10/74 vs Pakistan, 1999)
Anil Kumble is the only Indian bowler to take all 10 wickets in a single Test innings. He achieved this rare milestone against Pakistan at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi. Bowling in the fourth innings, he delivered a match-winning spell to help India secure a 212-run victory. Kumble’s control, variation, and accuracy made it tough for the Pakistani batters. His spell is still considered one of the greatest in Indian cricket history.
3. Ajaz Patel (10/119 vs India, 2021)
Ajaz Patel became the third bowler in Test cricket to take all 10 wickets in an innings. He did it against India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, which is also his birthplace. Despite New Zealand losing the match by a big margin, his performance was a personal milestone and gained many headlines. Ajaz bowled 47.5 overs and took 10 wickets for 119 runs in the first innings. It was a proud moment for him and New Zealand cricket.
4. George Lohmann(9/28 vs South Africa, 1896)
George Lohmann’s 9-wicket haul came at a time when cricket in Africa was in the developing stage, and achieving this feat during this time is a big deal in itself. Playing in Johannesburg in 18986, he tore through South Africa’s batting order with the display of seam and swing bowling. He bowled only 14.2 overs and took 9 wickets for just 28 runs. This remains one of the most economical and effective bowling performances in Test cricket. Lohmann also holds the record for the lowest strike rate in Tests.
5. Jim Laker (9/37 vs Australia)
In the same match where Jim Laker made the record for picking 10 10-wicket hauls in one innings, he had already taken 9 in the other. This gave him a match figure of 19 wickets for 90 runs, which is still a world record. His second-innings figures of 9/37 were equally brilliant, showing how dominant he was during his time and also throughout the game. No other bowler has ever come close to such a complete match-winning performance in a single Test match. It was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime display of bowling excellence.
