Imagine running through a batting line-up and leaving almost no one standing.
Australian bowlers have done that time and again in Test cricket. They have produced some record-breaking spells in red-ball cricket.
So here’s a look at the best bowling figures delivered by Australian bowlers in Tests.
Australia’s Greatest Test Bowling Spells of All Time
| Player | BBI | Overs | Econ | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arthur Mailey | 9/121 | 47.0 | 2.57 | England | Melbourne | 11 Feb 1921 |
| Glenn McGrath | 8/24 | 16.0 | 1.50 | Pakistan | Perth | 16 Dec 2004 |
| Frank Laver | 8/31 | 18.2 | 1.69 | England | Manchester | 26 Jul 1909 |
| Glenn McGrath | 8/38 | 20.3 | 1.85 | England | Lord’s | 19 Jun 1997 |
| Albert Trott | 8/43 | 27.0 | 1.59 | England | Adelaide | 11 Jan 1895 |
| Nathan Lyon | 8/50 | 22.2 | 2.23 | India | Bengaluru | 4 Mar 2017 |
| Bob Massie | 8/53 | 27.2 | 1.93 | England | Lord’s | 22 Jun 1972 |
| Ashley Mallett | 8/59 | 23.6 | 1.86 | Pakistan | Adelaide | 22 Dec 1972 |
| Mitchell Johnson | 8/61 | 24.0 | 2.54 | South Africa | Perth | 17 Dec 2008 |
| Nathan Lyon | 8/64 | 23.3 | 2.72 | India | Indore | 1 Mar 2023 |
| Hugh Trumble | 8/65 | 31.0 | 2.09 | England | The Oval | 11 Aug 1902 |
| Graham McKenzie | 8/71 | 28.0 | 1.90 | West Indies | Melbourne | 26 Dec 1968 |
| Shane Warne | 8/71 | 50.2 | 1.41 | England | Brisbane | 25 Nov 1994 |
| Bob Massie | 8/84 | 32.5 | 2.55 | England | Lord’s | 22 Jun 1972 |
| Merv Hughes | 8/87 | 37.0 | 2.35 | West Indies | Perth | 2 Dec 1988 |
Key Insights on Best Bowling Spells by Australian Bowlers in Test Cricket
Best Figures for Australia by Innings in Tests
Arthur Mailey has registered the best bowling figures for Australia in Tests. He returned 9 for 121 against England in the third innings of the 1921 Melbourne Test. (Check country-wise best Test bowling figures here.)
Glenn McGrath’s 8 for 24 against Pakistan in 2004 are the best figures for Australia while successfully defending the target (fourth innings) in Tests. His spell helped Australia bowl Pakistan out for 72 and win by 491 runs in the Perth Test.
McGrath has also delivered the best bowling figures for Australia in the first innings of a Test. He took 8 for 38 against England in the 1997 Lord’s Test.
Frank Laver’s figures of 8 for 31 against England in 1909 are the best for Australia in the second innings of a Test. This is also the best bowling figure for Australia in an away Test innings.
Best Match Haul and Debut Figures for Australia in Tests
Bob Massie has delivered the best match figures for Australia in Tests. He claimed 8 for 84 and 8 for 53 to have combined figures of 16 for 137 against England in the 1972 Lord’s Test.
Massie’s 16 for 137 are the second-best match figures by any bowler on Test debut.
Speaking of the best innings figures for Australia on Test debut, Albert Trott takes the honour. He registered figures of 8 for 43 against England in the fourth innings of the 1895 Adelaide Test. This is also the overall best figures on Test debut.
Best Test Spells by Age and Captain for Australia
Herbert Ironmonger picked up his career last five-for at the age of 49 years and 311 days, the oldest Australian bowler to do so in Tests. He claimed 6 for 18 against South Africa in the third innings of the 1932 Melbourne Test.
Pat Cummins, meanwhile, is the youngest Australian bowler to take a five-wicket haul in Tests at the age of 18 years and 193 days. He fetched 6 for 79 against South Africa in the third innings of the 2011 Johannesburg Test. Notably, this was his debut Test.
Ian Johnson has claimed the best bowling figures as an Australian captain in Tests. He took 7 for 44 against the West Indies in the third innings of the 1955 Georgetown Test.
Expensive Spells For Australia in Tests
Leslie O’Brien Fleetwood-Smith has bowled the most expensive bowling figures for Australia in Tests. He conceded 298 runs for a lone wicket against England in the first innings of the 1938 Oval Test.
Jason Krejza has picked up the most expensive five-wicket haul for Australia in Tests. He gave away 215 runs while taking eight wickets against India in the first innings of the 2008 Nagpur Test. This is also the most expensive five-for on debut and the third-most expensive bowling figures on Test debut.
Career Test Five-Wicket and Ten-Wicket Milestones for Australia
Shane Warne has taken the most five-wicket hauls (37) and the most ten-wicket hauls (10) for Australia in Tests.
His 37 five-fors are the joint second-most, while his 10 ten-fors are the second-most by a bowler in Tests.
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