Only two English spinners to take two ODI five-fors
Spin bowling is a technique in which the ball is delivered slowly but with the potential to deviate sharply. Picking up a five-wicket haul in any format is an achievement for any type of bowler, whether a seamer or a spinner. In the one-day international (ODI) format, current World Cup champions England have only two spin bowlers who have managed to claim a five-for twice and they are featured in this article.
Let’s take a look at the only two England spinners to pick two five-wicket hauls in the ODI format:
1. Vic Marks
Former all-rounder Vic Marks is one of the two English bowlers to snatch a five-for twice in the ODIs. The right-arm off-break bowler made his debut in the format against West Indies at Lord’s in the year 1980. He first achieved the feat against Sri Lanka in the 1983 World Cup in Taunton. Marks picked up figures of 5/39 which also included three maidens in his 12-over spell. His side won the contest by a margin of 47 runs. His second five-wicket haul came against New Zealand in Wellington the following year in 1984. Mark bowled a solid spell of 5/20 with three maidens in his ten-over spell. His side emerged victorious again by a margin of six wickets.
2. Adil Rashid
Part of the 2019 ODI World Cup and 2022 T20 World Cup winning squad, Adil Rashid is the second and the only other spinner on this elite list. The leg-break bowler claimed his maiden five-for in the 50-over format against Ireland in Bristol in the year 2017. In the first of the two-match series, Ireland batted first and got bundled out cheaply for just 126 thanks to Rashid. He spun his web to pick figures of 5/27 in his eight-over spell. The English side defeated the Irish team by a margin of seven wickets. Rashid’s second five-for came against West Indies in a high-scoring encounter at St.George’s in Grenada in 2019. England batted first and posted a mammoth 418/6 on the board. The spinner then took five wickets for 85 runs in his ten overs as the home side got bowled out for 389.
