Ishant Sharma has best bowling figures by Indian pacer in Test matches in four away countries

Ishant Sharma’s 5 for 54 in the first innings and match figures of 8 for 86 in the third Test against Sri Lanka at SSC, Colombo are the best innings and match figures by an Indian pacer in Sri Lanka. Bharath Seervi lists best innings and match figures by Indian pace bowlers in each away country. READ: Ishant Sharma takes 200th Test wicket on Day 5 of India vs Sri Lanka 2015, 3rd Test at Colombo (SSC)

Indian spearhead Ishant Sharma produced another five-wicket haul in an overseas Test match. He picked up 5 for 54 in the first innings of the third Test against Sri Lanka at Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo. This was his seventh five-wicket haul in Tests and sixth outside India. His figures are also the best by an Indian pace bowler in Sri Lanka. READ: Ishant Sharma’s over-the-top aggression would serve India well overseas

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Apart from the best figures by an Indian pacer in Sri Lanka, Ishant has the best figures in England, New Zealand and West Indies. He took 7 for 74 at Lord’s in 2014, 6 for 51 at Wellington in 2013-14 and 6 for 55 at Kensington Oval in 2011, all of which are best figures by Indian pacers in the respective countries. Of the nine away countries, Ishant has the best figures among Indian pacers in four. This is a remarkable achievement for someone often criticised for his inconsistency. READ: Ishant Sharma, the new 200 Test wickets club member, turns 27

Ishant Sharma’s five-wicket hauls in Tests

–          Ishant has at least one five-wicket haul in four away countries. He has not achieved this in Australia, South Africa and Bangladesh. He has not played a Test in Pakistan and Zimbabwe. READ: India finally break their shackles with historic series win against Sri Lanka

Let us check the best figures by an Indian pace bowler in each away country.

Best innings figures by Indian pace bowlers in each away country in Tests

–          Ishant has the best figures in four away countries; he has not played in two of the others (Pakistan and Zimbabwe).

–          Ishant has taken five-wicket hauls only in four away countries. They are also the best by Indian pacers in those countries. Interesting.

–          Kapil Dev is the only other Indian to have the best figures in multiple countries. He holds the best bowling figures among Indian pacers in both Australia and Pakistan. Both were 8-wicket hauls. READ: Did Ishant Sharma and Dhammika Prasad really cross a line in India vs Sri Lanka 2015, 3rd Test?

Ishant Sharma’s eight for 86 in that third Test against Sri Lanka are the best match figures by any Indian pace bowlers in the country. Ishant has the best figures among Indian pace bowlers in two other countries — New Zealand and West Indies.

–          Ishant has the best match figures among Indian pace bowlers in most countries as well — three.

–          Kapil (Australia and Pakistan) and Irfan Pathan (Bangladesh and Zimbabwe) have the best in two countries each. The other two are Venkatesh Prasad (South Africa) and Chetan Sharma (England).

–          No Indian pacer has taken a ten-wicket haul in Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan or Sri Lanka. READ: Ishant Sharma to Dhammika Prasad: Hit me on my head!

–          In fact, no Indian pacer has taken an eleven-wicket haul in any country barring Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

Though Ishant has less wickets and five-wicket hauls among Indian pace bowlers, he has the best figures in most number of away countries. That makes him special.

(Bharath Seervi is a cricket statistician who is obsessed with digging numbers, facts and records related to the game. An active member of Society of Cricket Statisticians of India, he blogs at www.cricketseervistats.blogspot.com. He can be followed on Twitter at @SeerviBharath and on Facebook here)