Ravichandran Ashwin picked his 36th five-wicket haul as he bamboozled the English top order in the India vs England 5th Test on Saturday, March 9 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium Dharamsala. Since the five-wicket haul came in his 100th Test, he joined the elite list of players who picked up five-wicket hauls in their 100th Test. 

Ashwin, who picked up four wickets in England’s first innings in this match, now had five and with two more English wickets yet to be taken. He could eye his 10-wicket match haul. If Ashwin manages to get 10 wickets, he will become the first cricketer in history to take a 10-wicket match haul in their 100th Test. 

Who else picked up a wicket haul in their 100th Test?

Shane Warne vs South Africa, 2002

The first player to pick a five-wicket haul in their 100th Terst was Australian spinner Shane Warne. Warner got two in the first innings of his 100th Test and then picked up six wickets in the second as Australia beat South Africa by chasing down 334 and winning the match by six wickets in 2002 in Cape Town. 

Anil Kumble vs Sri Lanka, 2005

India’s Anil Kumble was the second player to pick a five-wicket haul in his 100th Test. After picking just two in the first innings against Sri Lanka in 2005 at Ahmedabad, the Jumbo picked up five in the second innings as India beat the visitors by 259 runs. 

Muthiah Muralidaran vs Bangladesh, 2006

Ashwin best among all bowlers in their 100th Test

Thus, before Ashwin’s nine-wicket haul, where he, at the time of publishing this copy had figures of 9/128, Muralidaran had the best figures of 9/141 for a player in their 100th Test. 

First Published: Mar 09 2024 | 2:11 PM IST