2019 has undoubtedly been a year which has seen bowling and batting gain a level playing field. The batting averages have been as low as less than 28 this year while bowling numbers are among the best since the 1900s. Here we take a glance at five of the best bowling spells in Test cricket this year.
Roston Chase – 8/60 vs England – Bridgetown
If being bowled out for 77 in the first innings wasn’t embarrassing enough, England struggled to get going against West Indies in a run-chase of 600-plus. The destructor-in-chief on a deteriorating wicket was off-spinner Roston Chase. The middle-order batsman donned the primary spinner’s role and cleaned up England for 246 with him taking eight of the ten wickets. Career best figures for the off-spinner and the best bowling figures in the year so far.
Jasprit Bumrah – 6/16 vs West Indies – Sabina Park
After destroying West Indies with a five for seven at Antigua, Jasprit Bumrah had his tails up on a green surface at Sabina Park in the first innings. He was virtually unplayable as he swung the ball back into right handers and away from left-handers with menacing accuracy and pace. Dismissing Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks and Roston Chase, Bumrah picked up the third hat-trick by an Indian in Tests and went on to record figures of 6/16 by end of day’s play.
Chris Woakes – 6/17 vs Ireland – Lord’s
Woakes saved England from an embarrassing loss after Ireland’s Tim Murtagh had bowled England out for 85 in the first innings. Set less than 200 to win, Ireland seemed favourites to notch up a Test win against their neighbours but rain and a moisture-laden surface meant that England’s bowlers were in with enough and more help from the conditions. Woakes made most of it by ripping through Ireland with a terrific 6/17 to bowl Ireland out for 38.
Pat Cummins – 6/23 vs Sri Lanka – Brisbane
Pat Cummins picked up a four-wicket haul in the first innings at Brisbane to bowl Lanka out for 144 in January. Australia made 323 and seemed pretty intent to not bat one more time. Cummins ensured that by running through the Lankan line-up in the second innings. He picked up five of the first six wickets to fall and then added one more to end with figures of 6/23. He had bowled 15 overs, eight of which were maidens, conceded just 23 runs and picked up six wickets.
Jofra Archer – 6/45 vs Australia – Leeds
Jofra Archer’s signalled his arrival in Test cricket with a sensational spell against Steven Smith at Lord’s in the second Test of the Ashes. After consistently testing Australian batsmen with pace and bounce, he hit Smith on the neck and had him retired hurt. He also went on to hit Marnus Labuschagne, Smith’s concussion substitute, on the head. With the reputation of a throat hunter, Archer came to Leeds and stuck to a wonderful line and length on a green top to eke out six wickets to bowl Australia out for 179 in the first innings.