A lack of support from other players, could make a brilliant bowling display, and end up in a losing cause. We will now have a look at the best bowling figures in losing cause in tests.
10. Mitchell Johnson (2008)
Australia batted first in this test against South Africa. They scored 375. During Australia’s bowling, Mitchell Johnson exhibited his domination and racked up wickets, enabling Australia, to get a 94-run lead. However, South Africa was a dominant force at that time, and they showed it up in the final innings, when they chased a target of 414 in the final innings. Johnson’s eight-wicket haul in the first innings ended up being in vain. Mitchell Johnson had bowling figures of 8-61 in the innings.
9. George Lohmann (1892)
George Lohmann was an English bowler. In this test match against Australia, he bowled in the first innings, took eight wickets, and restricted Australia to just 144. However, England’s poor performances in both the departments in the final innings, meant, they lost the match. George Lohmann had bowling figures of 8-58 in the innings.
8. Angus Fraser (1998)
Angus Fraser was an English bowler. In this test match against West Indies, after England scored 214 in the first innings, he bowled and took eight wickets. It restricted West Indies to just 191. However, England’s poor batting in their second innings made them lose a close match. Angus Fraser had bowling figures of 8-53 in the innings.
7. Nathan Lyon (2017)
Australia toured India for the Border Gavaskar Trophy. This match was a low-scoring match due to the pitch conditions in Bengaluru. India got skittled out for just 189, mainly due to the brilliance of Nathan Lyon, who had a haul of eight wickets. However, in the remaining innings, Indian bowlers displayed their dominance, and Australia lost the match. Nathan Lyon had bowling figures of 8-50 in the innings.
6. Devendra Bishoo (2016)
West Indies played against Pakistan in this match. West Indies had a terrible performance in both the departments in the first innings, conceding a 222-run lead. When Pakistan set out to bat again, Bishoo took wickets one-by-one, and bowled Pakistan out for 123. However, by then, it was too late, as the target got too high. Devendra Bishoo had bowling figures of 8-49 in the innings.
5. Keshav Maharaj (2018)
South Africa toured Sri Lanka, and the South African pacers had a rugged time bowling to Sri Lanka. The spinner Keshav Maharaj toiled all by himself and took wickets. He did take nine wickets, but Sri Lanka scored 338, which proved to be too much for South Africa, as they never caught up in the game. Keshav Maharaj had bowling figures of 9-129 in the innings.
4. Subhash Gupte (1958)
West Indies toured India. West Indies batted first, and the Indian spinner bowled terrifically, taking nine wickets, and restricting them to 222. However, India also happened to score exactly 222, and West Indies established their dominance in the second innings. Subhash Gupte had bowling figures of 9-102 in the innings.
3. Jack Noreiga (1971)
India toured West Indies. In this game, West Indies batted first, and scored 214. In reply, during India’s batting, Jack Noreiga started amassing wickets, to restrict India, but he couldn’t. India ended up with a substantial lead of 138, due to which West Indies eventually lost the match. Jack Noreiga had bowling figures of 9-93 in the innings.
2. Kapil Dev (1983)
India hosted West Indies in this match. This was a few months after India famously upset West Indies in the World Cup. In return, West Indies established their dominance across both formats in all matches. In this game, West Indies batted first, and at the end of the first innings, they had a lead of 40 runs. During the second innings, when they batted, Kapil Dev bowled continuously at one end for 30.3 overs out of the entire 60.3 overs in the West Indies innings and managed to restrict them to 201. It proved to be in vain, as India ended up losing by 137 runs. Kapil Dev had bowling figures of 9-83 in the innings.
1. Ajaz Patel (2021)
Ajaz Patel was a spinner of the New Zealand team, which toured India. India batted first, and was batting well, hitting around every bowler. No bowler other than Ajaz Patel seemed even remotely threatening, as India was batting with ease. Ajaz had to take all the wickets one by one, and he hence became the third bowler in the history of test cricket to take ten wickets in an innings. However, New Zealand misfired in all four innings of the game and lost terribly by a margin of 372 runs. Ajaz Patel had bowling figures of 10-119 in the innings.
