Top 5 most economical spells in Tests ft. Jayden Seales
Test cricket is considered the ultimate ground for any player to showcase their skills on the field. The format has seen several top performances from players with both bat and ball over the years.
Bowlers, in particular, tend to have a hard time in this format. While they are expected to pick up wickets, they also face the challenge of bowling long spells while also being able to maintain control and give away easy runs to the batters.
Yet, numerous bowlers over the years have excelled in Test cricket and have bowled some of the most memorable and record-breaking spells. Most recently, right-arm pacer Jayden Seales from West Indies bowled a historic spell against Bangladesh in the ongoing second Test at Kingstone.
With his terrific display, Seales entered his name into record books, bowling one of the most solid and economical spells in the longest format of the game. On that note, here are the top five most economical spells bowled in the history of the red-ball format.
Top 5 most economical spells in Tests (Minimum 90 balls bowled)
#5 David Allen (19-15-8-1)
In 1966, New Zealand hosted England in the first Test at Christchurch. Batting first, England put up 342 runs in the first innings. In reply, New Zealand put up a strong effort, scoring 347 runs.
In the third innings, England declared at 201/5, setting the hosts a target of 197 runs to win the match. New Zealand, however, were reduced to 48/8 and were on the verge of losing the game. Luckily enough, they managed to draw the game in the end.
English spinner David Allen played a key role in the final innings, helping them keep things tight. He bowled 19 overs out of which 15 were maiden overs. He gave away only eight runs and picked up a wicket as well, ending his spell with an economy-rate of 0.42.
#4 Jim Burke (15-10-8-0)
During Australia's tour of South Africa in 1958, the fourth Test was played at Johannesburg, where Jim Burke impressed for the visitors with both bat and ball. Australia put up a commanding total of 401 runs in the first innings.
In reply, the hosts were cleaned up for just 203 runs. Australia enforced the follow-on and once again put up a brilliant effort with the ball, bowling South Africa out for just 198 runs.
Although he did not pick up a wicket, Jim Burke helped maintain pressure on the batters. He bowled 15 overs out of which 10 were maidens and gave away just eight runs at an economy-rate of 0.40. Australia had to chase only 1 run for a win and won by ten wickets.
#3 Jim Laker (14.1-9-7-2)
England's Jim Laker is third on this list. In the second Test between South Africa and England at Cape Town, the visitors put up 369 runs in the first innings. The hosts were bowled out for 205 runs, giving England a healthy lead.
The visitors then put up 220 runs for the loss of six wickets before declaring the innings and setting South Africa a target of 385 runs for victory. However, it proved to be way too much for the hosts as they were skittled out for just 72 with England winning by a massive 312-eun margin.
Johnny Wardle picked up seven wickets for England in the final innings. However, Jim Laker also played a key role with the ball. He bowled 14.1 overs with 9 maidens, giving away only seven runs apart from picking up a couple of wickets as well at an economy-rate of 0.37.
#2 Jayden Seales (15.5-10-5-4)
Jayden Seales created history in the ongoing second Test between West Indies and Bangladesh at Kingston by bowling the second most economical spell in the history of the format.
Bangladesh batted first and were bowled out for just 164 runs. Right-arm pacer Jayden Seales was the star of the show, helping the hosts dominate the proceedings in the first innings with the ball.
Sealed bowled 15.5 overs which included 10 maidens and gave away only five runs at an economy-rate of 0.31, which is now the second-best as well. Moreover, he also picked up four wickets including those of Litton Das and Bangladesh skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
#1 Bapu Nadkari (32-27-5-0)
India's Bapu Nadkari holds the record for the most economical spell in the history of Test cricket. During the first Test in Chennai between India and England in 1964, the hosts batted first and put up a solid total of 457/7 declared.
England were bundled out for 317 runs in the second innings. While Chandu Borde (5 wickets) and Salim Durani (3 wickets) stood out, it was Bapu Nadkari who kept things tight from one end, building the pressure on the English batters.
The left-arm spinner bowled as many as 32 overs, out of which a record 27 were maidens. While he did not pick up a wicket, he gave away only five runs with an economy-rate of just 0.15.