Flashback: Three Test bowlers in with a bowling average of 0
A player’s bowling average is calculated by dividing the runs conceded by the number of wickets taken by him. The lower the average, the better a bowler is considered. The first-ever Test match was played years ago between England and Australia in March 1877 in Melbourne and since then only three cricketers had an average of zero.
Let’s take a look at the players with a bowling average of zero in Test history:
Wilf Barber
Former England right-arm fast-medium bowler Wilf Barber took one wicket in the two balls that he bowled. He conceded zero runs in that one innings as he registered an average of zero after two games in his Test career. He took that solitary wicket of South Africa skipper Jock Cameron in Leeds in 1935. His second and final Test came in the same series in Manchester. The right-handed batter scored 83 runs at an average of 20.75 with the highest score of 44. He played 373 First-Class matches and amassed 16,402 runs at an average of 34.38 with the highest score of 255. In 526 FC innings, he struck 29 centuries and 78 half-centuries. With the ball, he took 16 wickets at an average of 26.18.
Albert Neilson Hornby
Former English player Albert Neilson Hornby also had a bowling average of zero in the longest format of the game. He picked up a solitary wicket of Australia’s Frank Allan in Melbourne in January 1879. He delivered seven overs for no runs as he bowled seven straight maiden overs. Nicknamed ‘Monkey’, Albert played only three Tests and scored 21 runs in six innings at an average of 3.50. His last appearance also came against the Aussies five years later in 1884 in Manchester. He played 437 FC games and racked up 16,109 runs at an average of 24.07 with the best score of 188. In 710 innings, he smashed 16 tons and 75 half-centuries. As a bowler, he snared 11 scalps in FC cricket at an average of 23.45.
Bruce Murray
Former New Zealand leg break bowler Bruce Murray is the third name on this list. The spinner bowled just solitary wicket-maiden over against India in Wellington in March 1968. Murray accounted for the opener Syed Abid Ali in the second innings. He played 13 Test matches and mustered 598 runs at an average of 23.92 In 26 innings, he slammed five half-centuries with the highest score of 90. His final appearance came against England in Christchurch in 1971. Murray played 102 FC games and scored 6257 runs at an average of 35.55 with the highest score of 213. In 187 innings, he struck six centuries and 43 fifties. With the ball, he took 30 wickets at an average of 28.93.
