In Test cricket, if a bowler takes three or four wickets in an innings, it is considered as a match-winning spell. Along with this, taking five or more wickets in an innings is regarded as a big milestone for a player and it could turn out to be best bowling figures in the match.
If we talk about taking 10 wickets in an innings, it seems to be an impossible task. However, there are still a few players who have achieved this milestone at international level. In the following listicle, we will have a look at the three players to take 10 wickets in an innings of a Test match.
Players to take 10 wickets in a Test innings
Jim Laker - 1956
Former England cricketer Jim Laker became the first player in the history of international cricket to achieve the milestone of taking 10 wickets in an innings of a Test match. He achieved this feat in a match against Australia in Manchester on July 26, 1956. The right-arm spinner dominated the whole Test match with his bowling by taking nine wickets in the first innings. After that, he went on to take all 10 wickets in the second innings, conceding 53 runs in 51.2 overs as England won the match by 170 runs.
Anil Kumble - 1999
Indian bowling great Anil Kumble was the second player to take 10 wickets in an innings of a Test match. The leg spinner achieved this feat in a match against Pakistan in Delhi in February 1999. After taking four wickets in the first innings, Kumble registered the figures of 10/74 in the second innings as India defeated Pakistan by 212 runs.
Ajaz Patel - 2021
New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel joined Laker and Kumle as the third player to take all 10 wickets in an innings of a Test match. He achieved this feat in a Test match against India at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in December 2021. The left-arm spinner registered the figures in 10/119 as New Zealand bowled India out for 325 runs in the first innings. However, Patel’s spell couldn’t help New Zealand as they lost the match by a huge margin of 372 runs.
