India's 5 best Test bowling performances in Perth ft. Mohammed Shami
India will be up against Australia in a five-match Test series, starting from November 22. The Optus Stadium in Perth will serve as the venue for the first fixture of the series.
The Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) ground was previously hosting international games in the city since 1970. However, since 2018, Optus Stadium has been a primary playing venue in Perth, due to its large capacity and world-class facilities.
In total, India have played a total of five Test matches in Perth, with four games in WACA and a solitary one in Optus. Both venues offer similar assistance in terms of pace and bounce, which is why India have been training for the first Test at WACA.
On that note, let's check out the five best Test bowling performances by an Indian bowler in Perth.
#5 Bishan Singh Bedi - 5/105, WACA, 1977
WACA hosted the second fixture of the five-match Test series during India's tour to Australia in 1977. India batted first and posted 402, with Mohinder Amarnath (90) the top-scorer.
Then, the visitors took a slim lead of eight runs by bundling out Australia for 394. In the second innings, Sunil Gavaskar and Amarnath scored respective centuries, as India declared on 330/9 and set up a target of 339.
Bedi managed to break Australia's opening stand by dismissing John Dayson. He soon dismissed David Ogilvie and Peter Toohey, but other bowlers couldn't support him well. The talented spinner went on to finish with figures of 5/105, as Australia completed the chase with two wickets to spare.
#4 Manoj Prabhakar - 5/101, WACA, 1992
Ahead of the final Test in the 1991/92 series between India and Australia, the hosts were already 3-0 up. Batting first, Australia were rocked by an early strike from right-arm pacer Manoj Prabhakar.
Prabhakar's next dismissal came in the form of David Boon (107), and he managed to send Tom Moody (50) packing as well. He ended with figures of 5/101 as Australia were all-out for 346.
Later, Australia won the game by a mammoth margin of 300 runs, with Mike Whitney picking up a total of 11 wickets.
#3 Umesh Yadav - 5/93, WACA, 2012
Australia were coming into the third Test in Perth after winning the first two matches of the series. Reeling under pressure, the visitors were all-out for 161 in the first innings. Riding on David Warner and Ed Cowan's impressive strokeplay, Australia cruised at a good pace, as Indian bowlers failed to make inroads.
However, Umesh Yadav managed to breach the defense of Cowan (74) and went on to dismiss other players, including Ricky Ponting to end with figures of 5/93. However, Warner's 180-run knock helped Australia to score 369.
Then, the MS Dhoni-led side were all-out for 171, as Australia won by an innings and 37 runs.
#2 Bishan Singh Bedi - 5/89, WACA, 1977
In the aforementioned 1977 Test in WACA, Bishan Singh Bedi was the finest bowler for the Indian side in the first innings as well. during Australia's first innings, Madan Lal got rid of Craig Serjeant early.
Then, it was all Bedi's show, as he went on to dismiss David Ogilvie, Peter Toohey, John Dyson, Kim Hughes and Tony Mann. As a result, he finished with figures of 5/89, as Australia were all-out for 394.
#1 Mohammed Shami - 6/56, Optus Stadium, 2018
Mohammed Shami impressed with his bowling performance in India's only Test played at Optus Stadium during India's 2018 tour to Australia. The hosts opted to bat first and got off to a sublime start with Marcus Harris and Aaron Finch. However, their 112-run stand was broken by Jasprit Bumrah, which opened the floodgates for India.
Shami went wicketess in the first innings, as the Australian team got to 326. In response, Kohli scored a century, but Australia managed to take a 43-run first-innings lead.
Then, Bumrah took the opening wicket by breaching the defense of Harris. Shami got into the act by inducing an edge off Shaun Marsh from his short delivery. Travis Head fell into the trap as he flashed Shami's widish ball and was caught at the third man region.
Shami used short-ball tactic to dismiss Tim Paine, Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja and Nathan Lyon and finished with figures of 6/56. As a result, Australia were bundled out for 243.
The collective effort of Australian bowlers saw India getting all-out for 140 and losing the game by 146 runs.