Best Bowling Figures in 2026 in Test
Explore the best bowling figures in Test cricket in 2026. Check the top spell performances in red ball matches.
Best Bowling Figures in Tests in 2026
| Player | Team | Bowling Figures | Overs Bowled | Econ | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taijul Islam (v Zimbabwe) | v Zimbabwe | 7/138 | 40.2 | 3.42 | v Zimbabwe | Harare | 28 Jun 2026 |
| Matt Henry (v England) | v England | 6/29 | 18.1 | 1.59 | v England | The Oval | 17 Jun 2026 |
| MJ Suthar (v Afghanistan) | v Afghanistan | 6/33 | 22.0 | 1.5 | v Afghanistan | New Chandigarh | 6 Jun 2026 |
| Nathan Smith (v Ireland) | v Ireland | 6/40 | 14.0 | 2.85 | v Ireland | Belfast | 27 May 2026 |
| Hasan Mahmud (v Australia) | v Australia | 6/55 | 17.0 | 3.23 | v Australia | Darwin | 13 Aug 2026 |
| MJ Suthar (v Sri Lanka) | v Sri Lanka | 6/55 | 23.4 | 2.32 | v Sri Lanka | Galle | 15 Aug 2026 |
| Nathan Smith (v England) | v England | 6/70 | 17.0 | 4.11 | v England | Lord’s | 4 Jun 2026 |
| Josh Hazlewood (v Bangladesh) | v Bangladesh | 6/89 | 28.0 | 3.17 | v Bangladesh | Darwin | 13 Aug 2026 |
| JA Warrican (v Pakistan) | v Pakistan | 6/112 | 46.0 | 2.43 | v Pakistan | Port of Spain | 2 Aug 2026 |
| Taijul Islam (v Pakistan) | v Pakistan | 6/120 | 34.2 | 3.49 | v Pakistan | Sylhet | 16 May 2026 |
| Mohammad Saleem (v India) | v India | 6/140 | 27.0 | 5.18 | v India | New Chandigarh | 6 Jun 2026 |
| Jayden Seales (v Pakistan) | v Pakistan | 5/20 | 14.2 | 1.39 | v Pakistan | Tarouba | 25 Jul 2026 |
| Mohammad Abbas (v West Indies) | v West Indies | 5/22 | 15.5 | 1.38 | v West Indies | Tarouba | 25 Jul 2026 |
| Justin Greaves (v Pakistan) | v Pakistan | 5/27 | 11.0 | 2.45 | v Pakistan | Tarouba | 25 Jul 2026 |
| Gus Atkinson (v New Zealand) | v New Zealand | 5/30 | 11.3 | 2.6 | v New Zealand | Lord’s | 4 Jun 2026 |
Key Insights on 2026’s Best Bowling Spells by Bowlers
Taijul Islam’s Marathon Spells: Bangladesh’s Taijul Islam holds the single best bowling performance of the year so far. He claimed an incredible 7/138 from a grueling 40.2 overs against Zimbabwe in Harare. He, along with Nathan Smith, appears twice in the top six with another massive spell of 6/120 against Pakistan,
Matt Henry’s Clinical Precision: New Zealand’s Matt Henry boasts the second-best figures on the list with a highly economical 6/29 off 18.1 overs. Achieved against England at The Oval, this stands as the most devastating 6-wicket haul of the year in terms of runs conceded.
Manav Suthar’s Dream Debut: India’s Manav Suthar delivered a stunning 6/33 in 22 overs against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh. This remarkable spell occurred during his Test debut, placing him in elite company as it registered as India’s third-best innings figures in a maiden Test appearance.
New Zealand’s Bowling Dominance: The Kiwis feature heavily at the top of the leaderboard, securing three of the top five spots. Alongside Henry, Nathan Smith proved highly lethal, delivering two outstanding 6-wicket hauls in consecutive weeks (6/40 against Ireland and 6/70 against England).
The Lord’s Wicket Fest: The June 4th Test match between England and New Zealand at Lord’s proved to be incredibly bowler-friendly. It generated three separate entries on this top 10 list: Nathan Smith (6/70) for New Zealand, alongside Gus Atkinson (5/30) and Ollie Robinson (5/39) for England.
Afghanistan vs. India Spin Battle: The June 6th Test in New Chandigarh saw massive hauls from both sides. While Suthar spun a web for India, Afghanistan’s Mohammad Saleem also bowled a massive 27-over spell to claim 6/140.
Nahid Rana’s Dual Format Success: Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana stands out as the only bowler this year to secure five-wicket hauls in both Test and ODI formats. He claimed his maiden Test five-for against Pakistan with figures of 5-40, complementing his multiple five-wicket performances in ODIs.
