Top 5 magical spells in Test Cricket: India’s dominance in Tests in recent years can largely be attributed to their bowling. Their bowling stocks have gone rapidly in the past few years. India’s consistent success overseas too is mainly owing to their pedigree in bowling.
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From the lows of not winning a Test overseas in the 2011-14 cycle, India went on to become the best travelling team. It was down to their bowling depth that India could challenge teams across all conditions. The bowlers have come up with fantastic spells in the longest format to keep the opposition in check.
We look at the Top 5 magical spells in Test Cricket:
#5 Ravindra Jadeja – Chennai, 2016
It was one of the flattest surfaces produced in the country for the longest time. Chennai played host to the fifth and final Test of the series. India was leading the series 3-0 heading into the game. England won the toss once again scoring 477 runs in the first innings. It was a score that should have been enough for a side to not lose a game. India in response batted big scoring 759 runs thanks to a triple ton from Karun Nair.
England had to bat for 3 plus sessions to save the Test. The openers saw through the first session without any damage. But Ravindra Jadeja then produced one of the most brilliant spells of spin bowling. His 7-48 destroyed England within two sessions. India won with just an hour left in the game.
#4 Ravichandran Ashwin – Sri Lanka, 2015
It was Kumar Sangakkara’s swansong series in Tests. He had announced that he would retire after the first two Tests of the 3-match series. Sri Lanka won the first Test dramatically after being behind in the game for a long stretch. India though went on to win the remaining two Tests to win the series 2-1.
It was on the back of Ravichandran Ashwin’s series-winning spells that India registered their series win in Sri Lanka after decades. Ashwin broke the back of Lanka’s batting dismissing Sangakkara four times in four innings. No Indian spinner had such a domino effect on Lankan batters on their home soil.
#3 India’s pacers – Johannesburg, 2018
India lost a solid opportunity to win their maiden series in South Africa in 2017-18. The Wanderers’ pitch in Johannesburg was the most treacherous. Batters were getting hit on the body from a good length. Indian batters braved all odds to post a target of 240 in the final innings. South Africa had the upper hand at one stage when they motored along to 120-1.
The pitch surprisingly seemed to have no demons. But India’s pacers stepped up collectively to land decisive blows. India won the game in a single session triggering one of the most epic collapses on foreign turf.
#2 Jasprit Bumrah – MCG, 2018
The series scoreline read 1-1 heading into the Boxing Day Test in MCG, 2018. India needed an inspirational spell from one of their pacers to set the game up. Jasprit Bumrah stepped up beautifully to dismantle the Aussie lineup. His delivery to dismiss Shaun Marsh at the stroke of lunch on day 3 remains one of the most magical deliveries bowled down under. Bumrah picked up 6 wickets to help India gain not just match-winning but a series-winning lead.`
#1 India’s pacers – Lords, 2021
The game ebbed and flowed until the last 80 overs of the final day at Lords. There was a lot of chatter between both sides across the first 3 innings of the Test. England resorted to body line bowling to India’s lower order. The Indian team kept egging and cheering for the batting pair of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami. India declared with 60 overs remaining on the final day.
The wicket was flat, the opposition was defensive. But India turned up the heat right from ball one. India’s all-four seamers picked wickets at crucial stages to dent the home side. The Lords dressing room heard the most vociferous noise ever. India’s victory roar was such!
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