Yearender 2014: Top 10 bowling spells in Test Matches

After a tremendous year of Test cricket, Ankur Dhawan sheds light on some of the defining bowling spells in the Year 2014 that spelled doom for the tyranny of rampaging batsmen.

Mitchell Johnson, 7 for 68 vs South Africa at Centurion: Johnson instilled the lost phenomenon of fear in the minds of a formidable South African batting line-up claiming seven for 68 on a placid Centurion surface. Australia posted a competitive 398 before Johnson annihilated the Proteas. He claimed the wickets of Alviro Petersen, Graeme Smith, Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers before wiping out the tail with consummate ease.

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Dale Steyn, 4 for 55 vs Australia at Port Elizabeth: With rain forecast for the final day, Dale Steyn abruptly woke up from a stupor on Day Four of the second Test at Port Elizabeth to skittle out Australia in their second innings with an exhibition of reverse swing bowling. Steyn struck timely blows to dismiss Michael Clarke, Steven Smith, and Brad Haddin in a devastating spell that helped South Africa topple Australia by 231 runs.

Dhammika Prasad, 5 for 50 vs Sri Lanka at Headingly: Dhammika Prasad broke the back bone of the English batting by claiming their top four batsmen with a paltry 52 runs on the board. Prasad swung the ball at pace and breached the defences of the English batsmen with great regularity. He returned to dismiss Matt Prior as he finished with match-winning figures of five for 50 in 22 overs.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 6 for 82 vs England at Lord’s: The Indians were greeted by prototypical English conditions at Lord’s. One man in the Indian dressing room wasn’t complaining. In the mould of Terry Alderman, Bhuvneshwar exploited conditions he’d love for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. He finished with figures of six for 82 which ensured England took only a slender lead of 23 runs in response to India’s 296.

Ishant Sharma, 7 for 74 vs England at Lord’s: Ishant Sharma had finally found his mojo in the year 2014. He produced a spell to behold; he bounced England out in the second Test at Lord’s to help India register their first overseas win in 12 Tests. Ishant claimed seven wickets for 74 runs in the fourth innings of what proved to be a historic match.

Moeen Ali, 6 for 67 vs India at Southampton: Moeen Ali struck incisive blows in India’s second innings at Southampton to help England level the five-match series one-all. Presumably a part-timer, Moeen made a mockery of the famed Indian batting line up claiming six wickets on a most docile surface.

Rangana Herath, 9 for 127 vs Pakistan at SSC Colombo: Rangana Herath almost achieved the unthinkable when he ran through the Pakistan line up singlehandedly in the first innings at SSC, Colombo. Herath dismissed nine Pakistani batsmen missing the record held by Jim Laker and Anil Kumble by a whisker. He became the second Sri Lankan to pick up a nine-wicket haul in an innings. He finds himself in illustrious company of Muttiah Muralitharan who’d done it against England at the oval.

Mark Craig, 7 for 94 vs Pakistan at Sharjah: Mark Craig’s seven for 94 helped New Zealand claw back into the third Test against Pakistan at Sharjah. Pakistan had concluded Day One at an imposing 281 for three before Craig halted their progress to restrict the hosts to 351. For a finger spinner to have run through an Asian side on a placid Day Two surface was a commendable effort that deserved a special mention.

Trent Boult, 4 for 38 vs Pakistan at Sharjah: Trent Boult struck four colossal blows to ensure a comfortable win for New Zealand over Pakistan in the third and final Test at Sharjah. Boult, who’d struggled through the series, found rhythm at a critical juncture as he ripped through the in-form Pakistan top order which helped New Zealand level the three match series with an emphatic win by an innings and 80 runs.

Nathan Lyon, 7 for 152 vs India at Adelaide: Nathan Lyon silenced his critics by bowling Australia to victory against arguably the best players of spin on the final day at Adelaide. The Indians attacked Lyon from the outset but he saw opportunity in India’s method as he played to their ego, often flighting the ball up higher after being hit for a boundary or a six. Lyon sealed the match for Australia with the wicket of Virat Kohli, who was caught at the deep midwicket fence.

(Ankur Dhawan is a reporter with CricketCountry. Heavily influenced by dystopian novels, he naturally has about 59 conspiracy theories for every moment in the game of cricket. On finding a direct link between his head and the tip of his fingers, he also writes about it)