The 10,000 LBWs: From George Ulyett to Hashim Amla and other statistics

George Ulyett was the first, in 1876-77 against Australia, to Nat Thomson.

The first Test between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Port Elizabeth (the traditional Boxing Day Test) of 2016-17 witnessed a historic moment in Test cricket. On Day Three, Test cricket witnessed the 10,000th LBW dismissal. The historic moments could have happened in any of two simultaneous Tests, for Australia and Pakistan were playing a simultaneous Test at Melbourne. However, the milestone mark was meant to take place at Port Elizabeth. The honour went to Nuwan Pradeep, who trapped Hashim Amla leg-before to etch his name permanently in the annals of the sport. It is only pertinent that we present some numbers regarding the leg-before-wicket decision.

Amla was the batsman to be part of the 10,000th LBW dismissal. George Ulyett was the first, in 1876-77 against Australia, to Nat Thomson. The below table provides more relevant information:

Ulyett was obviously the first Englishman to be dismissed LBW as well. The below table will give the information of first player from each team to be dismissed LBW in Tests.

Out of 10,000 LBW dismissals, 2,030 came from England, followed by Australia with 1,505. No other team has made it to the 1,500-mark.

The first LBW dismissal was claimed by Thomson, as mentioned. The below table will give the information of first bowler from each team to an LBW.

Interestingly, both the first bowler from India (CK Nayudu) and Pakistan (Abdul Hafeez Kardar) to take the first LBW wicket from their teams were the first Test captains of the sides. Moreover, 7 out of the 10 Test teams claimed their first LBWs in the team’s first Tests. South Africa, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh have missed out.

The record for most LBWs by a bowler is held by Anil Kumble (156). Muttiah Muralitharan is next, with 150.

As for batsmen, Sachin Tendulkar has been dismissed LBW most times (63). Shivnarine Chanderpaul (55) and Graham Gooch (50) are the only others to have reached the 50-mark.

The record for most LBWs in a Test is 20. This was ‘achieved’ between West Indies and Pakistan in 2011.

The record for most LBWs in a Test by a single team is 11. West Indies were the first to reach the landmark, in the Test mentioned above. England equalled them, once again versus Pakistan, in 2011-12.

The record for most LBWs taken by a team in an innings is 7, which has happened twice: by Zimbabwe against England in 2003 and by New Zealand against Australia in 2004-05.

The iconic venue of Lord’s has witnessed most LBWs (488). MCG comes next, with 429.

The record for most LBWs in a season is 212, which has happened twice in 2003-04 and 2011-12. Besides these two seasons, only once there has been more than 200 LBWs in a season.

The record for most LBWs in a calendar year is 297 in 2002. The closest to this record came in 2016, which witnessed 271 LBWs. Prior to 2000, there was no such year witnessed even 250 LBWs in a year. In the previous century, the record was of 244 in 1998.

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