Flashback 2021: Top five spells in Test cricket
Saying 2021 was a treat for cricket fans would be an understatement. After all, jaw-dropping action across all three formats was on display. From the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year to the T20 World Cup, several fascinating matches and tournaments took place. Meanwhile, Test cricket carried massive relevance as the inaugural World Test Championship final took place.
The summit clash saw India and New Zealand battling it out with each other and the Kiwis walking away with an eight-wicket triumph. Meanwhile, the matter of fact is Test matches are won by bowlers as a team needs to take 20 wickets to emerge victorious. As Test cricket was on a roll in 2021, fans also witnessed some scintillating spells.
Meanwhile, let’s look at the top five Test spells in 2021:
- Pat Cummins – 5/38
Standing in his very first assignment as Australia’s Test captain, Pat Cummins spitted venom with the red cherry and scalped a five-wicket haul against England in the first Ashes Test. It was the first day of the Brisbane Test and Joe Root opted to bat after winning the toss. However, his counterpart stole the show and took his side to a nine-wicket triumph.
- Axar Patel – 6/38
Axar Patel made the ball talk in the newly-inaugurated Ahmedabad Stadium earlier this year. England’s decision of batting first after winning the toss never seemed fruitful as they suffered an epic batting collapse. The left-arm spinner was the wreaker-in-chief for India as he scalped six wickets in the first innings. He added five more to his tally when the Three Lions came out bat for the second time. As a result, India walked away with a 10-wicket triumph.
- Kyle Jamieson – 5/31
The tall and lanky was instrumental in taking New Zealand to World Test Championship triumph. While he has been on a roll throughout his Test career so far, he was particularly brilliant in the summit clash against India. Jamieson ripped apart India’s formidable batting line-up with a fiery spell in Southampton. He took a five-for as New Zealand won by eight wickets.
- James Anderson – 5/62
A 39-year-young James Anderson spitted venom with the red-cherry in the Lord’s Test against India earlier this year. While the likes of Mark Wood and Sam Curran couldn’t do much against the Indian batters, Anderson was his lethal best. He took a five-for to keep the Three Lions in the hunt. However, his efforts went in vain as India won the game by 151 runs.
- Ajaz Patel – 10/119
History was scripted when India and New Zealand met in the Mumbai Test in the recently-concluded series. While the Kiwis lost that contest by 372 runs, Patel bowled a once-in-a-lifetime spell. The left-arm spinner made optimum utilization of the track and took all 10 wickets on offer in India’s first innings. He thus joined Anil Kumble and Jim Laker in an elite list.
