Lord’s is the Home of Cricket and has seen some amazing games and great performances over the years. Captaincy in cricket is tough because you have to lead and play well at the same time. Only a few captains have really shone with the ball here and when they do, it’s special.
Here are the Top five Best Bowling Performances by Test captains at Lord’s:
1. Pat Cummins – 6/28 vs South Africa, 2025
In the ICC World Test Championship Final in 2025, Australian captain Pat Cummins had a great game against South Africa, taking 6 wickets for 28 runs. He made a big impact in a close game, using the slope at Lord’s wisely and following James Anderson’s advice to bowl up. This is now the best bowling figure by a captain at Lord’s in Test history.
2. Bob Willis – 6/101 vs India, 1982
England captain Bob Willis was on fire in 1982 against India. He took 6 wickets for 101 runs in one innings. While he gave away a few runs, his performance as both captain and lead bowler was great, putting pressure on a strong Indian team and helping England win by 7 wickets.
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3. Gubby Allen – 5/42 vs India, 1936
In 1936, Gubby Allen led England against India and had a great game, taking 5 wickets for 42 runs. Back then the pitches were uncovered and bowling was tough. Allen’s accuracy made it hard for the Indian batsmen, giving England a good start.
4. Gubby Allen – 5/35 vs India, 1936
Gubby Allen appears again on this list for the same match, taking 5 wickets for 35 runs in the other innings. In total he took 10 wickets as captain, which is rare even today. His ability to stay consistent under pressure showed why he was one of England’s best all-round captains.
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5. Daniel Vettori – 5/69 vs England, 2008
In 2008, Daniel Vettori was impressive as a left-arm spinner for New Zealand against England, taking 5 wickets for 69 runs. A great performance for a spinner at Lord’s, which is a pace bowler’s paradise. His cleverness and captaincy helped a young Kiwi team to put up a good fight against a strong England team.
