Over the years, The Oval has seen some thrilling Test matches between England and India. Recently, Gus Atkinson stole the show with a great bowling spell against India. In the 5th Test of the Anderson Tendulkar Trophy, he took 5 wickets and India was all out for a low score. Let’s look back at the top 5 bowling spells at The Oval in India-England Test history.
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5. Fred Trueman – 5/48 In 1952
In 1952, Fred Trueman had a great game, taking 5 wickets and 48 runs in the 2nd innings. Known for his pace and swing, Trueman was a handful for Indian batsmen. England declared for 326 and Trueman’s bowling saw India get out for 98. His victims were Vinoo Mankad, Pankaj Roy, Vijay Hazare, Dattu Phadkar and Khokhan Sen. People still remember his match as one of the best by a fast bowler against India at The Oval.
4. Alec Bedser – 5/41 In 1952
Alec Bedser, the top English medium pacer, also had a great spell at The Oval. Also in 1952, he took 5 wickets for 41 runs and helped England take control. He worked well with Trueman and also took a 5 wicket haul. He dismissed Hemu Adhikari, Vijay Manjrekar, Polly Umrigar, Ramesh Divecha and Gulabrai Ramchand to bowl out India for 98. But the match ended in a draw due to lost time.
3. Gus Atkinson – 5/33 In 2025
Gus Atkinson is the latest to join this list, taking 5 wickets for 33 runs in 21.4 overs in the 5th Test of the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. In his first Test at The Oval, Atkinson’s pace and accuracy was a problem for India’s top order. His aggression and ability to bowl accurately made him tough to play against. His economy rate of 1.52, the best among the top 5, showed his control. Besides his 5 wickets, Atkinson also contributed to a run out of Indian captain Shubman Gill which shifted the game’s momentum
2. Graeme Swann – 6/106 In 2011
In 2011, Graeme Swann, the off-spinner, troubled India’s batting at The Oval. After making India follow on, Swann’s bowling saw India get out for 283 and England win by an innings and 8 runs. Over two innings, Swann bowled 69 overs, took 9 wickets for 208 runs. His best performance was in the 2nd innings with 6 wickets for 106 runs. Swann’s turn and bounce on a dry Oval pitch made life difficult for the batsmen and England won comfortably.
1. Gubby Allen – 7/80 In 1936
In 1936, George Oswald Browning Allen (Gubby Allen) showed great swing and seam bowling. He played only one game in that series at The Oval and took 7 wickets for 80 runs in the 3rd innings. His pace and movement troubled the Indian batters, earning him the best bowling performance by an Englishman against India at this venue. Allen’s bowling dismissed India for 312, setting up a small target, which England reached in 13 overs to win by 9 wickets.
