5 overseas bowlers whose career-best Test figures are against India
India’s Test team has been pretty formidable in the last few decades thanks to the constant production of quality players. While the side’s current Test set-up is studded with players of different departments, the nation is predominantly known to produce great batters. From CK Nayudu to Virat Kohli, the nation has witnessed some of the batting legends.
With India having services of such prominent batters, several visiting bowlers have had a hard time. However, some were able to embrace this challenge and register their best bowling figures against India.
Meanwhile, let’s look at top 5 bowlers who have registered their career-best Test figures against India:
5. Nathan Lyon – 8/50
One of the finest Test spinners going around, Nathan Lyon spun his web around India batters in the second Test of Australia’s 2017 tour of India. The off-spinner made optimum utilization of the Bengaluru track and took a career-best 8/50 in the very first innings of the contest. His efforts, however, went in vain as India eventually won the game by 75 runs.
4. Lance Gibbs – 8/38
It was the third Test of India’s 1962 tour of West Indies. Having scalped just one wicket in India’s first innings, Lance Gibbs bowled a stellar spell and took eight of India’s 10 wickets in the other innings. The off-spinners heroics helped West Indies clinch the game by an innings and 30 runs in Bridgetown.
3. Fred Trueman – 8/31
One of the finest pacers to have played for England, Fred Trueman is third on this list. The right-arm speedster delivered a lethal spell in the Manchester Test of India’s 1952 tour of England. Trueman made great use of the green surface and took an eight-wicket haul in India’s first innings. His heroics took England to a victory by an innings and 207 runs.
2. Jack Noreiga – 9/95
Former West Indies off-spinner Jack Noreiga played just four Tests in his entire career but still made a significant mark. Noreiga made the ball talk in the second Test of India’s 1971 tour of West Indies. While none of his teammates could do much, the off-spinner took nine wickets in India’s first innings but the visitors eventually walked away with a seven-wicket win.
1. Ajaz Patel – 10/119
Although New Zealand suffered a humiliating 372-run defeat in the second Test of the recently-concluded series, Ajaz Patel created history. The left-arm spinner became only the third bowler to take all 10 wickets on offer in an innings. His herculean effort, however, couldn’t help the Kiwis avoid a defeat.
