Pacers with most five-wicket hauls in home Tests
A fast bowler running into bowl with the crowd matching them for stride to stride is one of the perks of the longest format of the game. Bowlers enjoy taking wickets in difficult conditions but it becomes even more joyous when it comes in front of their home crowd.
We take a look at the bowlers with the most five-wicket hauls in home Tests:
Fred Trueman (England) – 14
One of England’s pioneers in the fast-bowling department, Fred Trueman was the first cricketer ever to breach the 300-wicket mark in Tests. Trueman was one of the most frightening bowlers in the 50s and 60s, the fast bowler announced himself with a sensational 8/31 on debut against India. He finished his career with 17 five-wicket hauls, out of which 14 came on the home soil of England.
Dennis Lillee (Australia) and Richard Hadlee (New Zealand) – 15
Dennis Lillee was Australia’s spearhead through the 70s as he terrified batters with his pace. One of the hardest working bowlers in the history of the game, Lillee was committed to the team’s cause and always put his hands up whenever the team needed a breakthrough. Lilee grabbed five wickets in an innings on 23 occasions and 15 of those came down under.
Richard Hadlee is one of the true greats of New Zealand cricket and one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time. The right-arm quick amassed an impressive haul of 431 wickets in his career along with 36 fifers to his name, out of which 15 came in New Zealand.
Dale Steyn (South Africa) – 16
One of the most terrifying bowlers of the modern era Dale Steyn was one of the most complete bowlers to ever graced the game. Steyn was exceptional in all formats of the game, but there was something special to his bowling in the Tests. The ability to swing the ball both ways at a lightning-quick pace terrified batters all around the globe. Out of his 26 five-wicket hauls in Tests, 16 came in South Africa.
Ian Botham (England) – 17
One of the most respected names in English cricket, Ian Botham was one of the greatest all-rounders in the game, with over 5000 runs and 350+ wickets in Tests. The tall right-arm bowler was one of the stalwarts of the English team during the 80s and grabbed five-wicket in the innings on 27 occasions, 17 came on the home shores.
James Anderson (England) – 24
James Anderson is head and shoulders above anyone else in this list with 24 five-wicket hauls in home Tests in England. The veteran pacer is still going strong at the ripe age of 39 and has bagged a record 651 wickets in his prolonged Test career. The English pacer is the 3rd highest wicket-taker of all time in Tests.
