In less than a fortnight, Test cricket’s oldest conflict will have one more instance as the teams of Australia and England will fight for the Ashes. The countries have played each other in 361 Test matches during the last 148 years, from the first-ever Test match to now.
Great performances with both bat and ball were often seen in these Test matches. We are highlighting the top bowling figures in an Ashes Test match from the commencement of The Ashes in August 1882 in this article.
Best Bowling Figures in The History
1. Jim Laker (9/37 & 10/53) – 1956 Old Trafford Test
One of the greatest English off-spinners Jim Laker delivered the Manchester Test match during the 1956 Ashes with arguably the greatest ever bowling performance in a Test match. He alone wrecked the Australians in both the innings, taking 19 wickets in the match for just 90 runs.
Thus, he became the first ever player in the history of Test match cricket to take all 10 wickets in an innings. England won the Test match thanks to Laker’s efforts by an innings and 170 runs and took a 2-1 lead in the series.
2. Bob Massie (8/84 & 8/53) – 1972 Lord’s
Robert Arnold Lockyer Massie (Bob Massie) made a storm on his debut Test with the Australian swing bowler claiming 16 wickets for 137 runs against England at Lord’s in 1972. This remarkable performance, which included 8 wickets each in both innings, set a new world record for the best bowling analysis by a Test debutant, which stood until 1988.
In addition, this bowling figure is still the best ever at Lord’s and the best by Australians anywhere. Massie’s expertise in late swing bowling was unbeatable in the overcast conditions which helped Australia in the series to victory..
3. Hedley Verity (7/61 & 8/43) – 1934 Lord’s Test
Hedley Verity, the superb left-arm English spinner, was instrumental in the team’s only win at Lord’s for the whole of the 20th century.
It was truly a monumental task that Verity performed, as he bowled no less than 36 overs in the first innings. After that, he did 22.3 overs when the Aussies were in their second innings following on. At last his 15 for 104 became one of the greatest-ever bowling displays on the sacred ground of Lord’s.
4. Wilfred Rhodes (7/56 & 8/68)- 1904 Melbourne Test
Wilfred Rhodes, the legendary all-rounder, showcased his incredible bowling skills during the Ashes 1904 series that led England to a 3-2 victory in the five-match series. The left-arm spinner, who was the main strike bowler for England, took a total of 31 wickets in the five Tests.
The best of his performances came in the fourth Test at Melbourne where he took 7/56 in the first innings and then grabbed 8 wickets for 68 runs in the second innings to lead England 2-0 in the series.
5. Alec Bedser (7/55 & 7/44)- 1953 Nottingham Test
England became significant in the Ashes 1953 as they regained the Ashes after a long time. Alec Bedser was one of the main characters in England’s victory particularly with his performance in Nottingham. He nearly singlehandedly curtailed the Australians. He took 7 wickets giving away 55 runs in the frst inning and later in the second he went for 7/44.
Eventually, it was Bedser’s extraordinary deliveries that helped England draw the first Test of the series. England eventually won the series with Bedser taking 39 wickets at an average of 17.48.
