New Zealand left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel on Saturday scripted history as he became just the third bowler to take a 10-wicket haul in Test cricket. The 33-year-old achieved his best bowling figures in Test against India during the second Test at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

The Mumbai-born cricketer joined Jim Laker and Anil Kumble in the elite list of bagging 10 wickets in an innings in Test.

Having already claimed four wickets on Day 1 of the second Test, Patel picked six more on Day 2 of the Mumbai Test to end with figures of 10/119 in his 47.5 overs.

Interestingly, all the three bowlers to pick a 10-wicket haul in Test cricket are spinners. While England’s Jim Laker bagged 10 wickets in an innings against Australia at Manchester in 1956, India’s Anil Kumble was the last bowler to scalp a 10-wicket haul against arch-rivals Pakistan in Delhi in 1999.

After his 10-wicket haul on Saturday, Ajaz registered the best bowling figures by a New Zealand bowler in Test cricket. The previous best by a Kiwi bowler was recorded by the legendary Richard Headley against Australia in 1985.

Patel’s figures of 10/119 is also the best bowling figures by a visiting spinner in India. It is also the best bowling figures in a Test innings against India.

Best bowling figures in Test cricket

Player Team Opposition Overs Runs Wickets Ground Match Date
Jim Laker England Australia 51.2 53 10 Manchester 26 Jul 1956
Anil Kumble India Pakistan 26.3 74 10 Delhi 4 Feb 1999
Ajaz Patel New Zealand India 47.5 119 10 Mumbai 3 Dec 2021
George Lohmann England South Africa 14.2x5 28 9 Johannesburg 2 Mar 1896
Jim Laker England Australia 16.4 37 9 Manchester 26 Jul 1956

Featured photo: PRAKASH SINGH / AFP

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