Conditions for test cricket, in India, tend to be pretty supportive for spin, compared to pace. Hence, an overseas pacer, not adjusted to the conditions, tends to find it difficult to bowl in India. Them piling up wickets, is a significant achievement. We will now have a look at the best bowling figures by overseas pacers in Indian tests.
1. Geoff Dymock (1979)
Geoff Dymock was a left-arm pacer from Australia. He was a part of the Australian squad, on the Australia tour of India, in 1979. In the third test, Australia had a 33-run lead in the first innings. However, when India batted again, they scored 311, as the Australian bowlers couldn’t stop the run flow. However, Dymock took wickets at regular intervals. Geoff Dymock had bowling figures of 7-67 in this innings.
2. Tim Southee (2012)
New Zealand toured India for a two-match series. In the second match, New Zealand batted first, and scored 365. India scored well, and came close to this score. India made 353. The pick of the bowlers, for New Zealand, in this innings, was Tim Southee. He took seven wickets, and was the reason why New Zealand managed to get a first innings lead. Tim Southee had bowling figures of 7-64 in this innings.
3. Andy Roberts (1975)
West Indies toured India for a five-match series. The fourth test happened in Chennai. India batted first, and Andy Roberts produced a terrific spell to restrict India to just 190. He took seven wickets in this innings. Andy Roberts had bowling figures of 7-64 in this innings.
4. Dale Steyn (2010)
Dale Steyn was one of the best all-format bowlers at this point in time. The South African test team, was also at the peak of its prowess, winning games, across the world. South Africa toured India for a test series. In the Nagpur test, Dale Steyn produced terrific bowling. His performance is still remembered as one of the best bowling performances. South Africa batted first, and scored a massive 558. When India set out to bat, they got skittled for just 233, due to a seven-wicket haul from Steyn. Dale Steyn had bowling figures of 7-51 in this innings.
5. Ian Botham (1980)
This was the only test in the England tour of India. Ian Botham had an all-round performance. In the second innings of the match, he scored a century. In the third innings of the game, he took seven wickets to bowl out India for just 149. Ian Botham had bowling figures of 7-48 in this innings.
6. John Lever (1976)
This game was part of the England tour of India. English pacer John Lever made his debut. He scored a half-century in the first innings, and England scored 381. When England came to bowl, he produced some brilliant bowling, bagging seven wickets. John Lever had bowling figures of 7-46 in this innings.
7. Ray Lindwall (1956)
Australia toured India, for this test series. The first game was in Chennai. Australia had a first-innings lead of 158. Australia set out to bowl again. Ray Lindwall took seven wickets, in this innings, and was the key reason, why Australia managed to bowl India out for just 153. Australia won the match by an innings and five runs. Ray Lindwall had bowling figures of 7-43 in this innings.
8. Fazal Mahmood (1952)
Pakistan toured India for a five-match series. In the second match, India batted first, and got bowled out for 106, with the Pakistani pacer Fazal Mahmood taking a five-wicket haul. Pakistan then scored 331. When Pakistan set out to bowl again, Fazal Mahmood took more wickets, getting a seven-wicket haul, which led to them getting an innings victory. Fazal Mahmood had bowling figures of 7-42 in this innings.
9. Sikander Bakht (1979)
Pakistan toured India for a six-match series. The second test happened in Delhi. Pakistan batted first, and scored 273. When they set out to bowl, Sikander Bakht produced a terrific spell to restrict India to just 126. He took eight wickets in this innings. Sikander Bakht had bowling figures of 8-69 in this innings.
10. Lance Klusener (1996)
South Africa batted terrifically, in this match against India. They scored 428 in their first innings, and declared at 367-3, in the second. They set a target of 467 for India in the final innings. Lance Klusener took eight wickets in this innings, as South Africa managed to win the match 329 runs. Lance Klusener had bowling figures of 8-64 in this innings.
