Harsh Thakor
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My personal choice of 15 best test spells in a single innings by a pace bowler in my selected order of merit.
1.Curtly Ambrose-7-25 at Perth in 1992-93
2.Bob Willis 8-43 v Australia at Leeds in 1981
3.Michael Holding 8-92 at the Oval in 1976
4.Richard Hadlee 9-52 at Brisbane in 1985-86.
5.Curtly Ambrose 6-24 v England at Trinidad in 1994
6.Imran Khan 8-60 v India at Karachi in 1982-83
7.Dennis Lillee 6-26 at Melbourne in 1977
8.Malcolm Marshall 7-22 at Old Trafford
9.Malcolm Marshall 5-29 at Sydney in 1988-89
10.Glen Mcgrath 8-38 at Lords in 1997
11.Colin Croft 8-29 at Trinidad in 1977 v Pakistan
12.Sarafraz Nawaz 9-86 at Melbourne in 1978-79
13 Wasim Akram 6-62 at Melbourne in 1989-90
14.Kapil Dev 9-83 v West Indies at Ahmedabad
15.Glen Mcgrath 5-34 at Lords in 2001
Chose Ambrose's Perth spell at the top because I can't visualize a more scintillating effort of by a pace bowler .He literally caused a blitzkreig , ripping through a batting order,reminscent of flesh torn of a body or nine pins rolling.The disconcerting height created from a good length was almost unplayable.Reminded you of a steam roller on the field.It was a combination of speed,control and accuracy with Ambrose looking like a pace bowling machine more than anyone.
For sheer grit and determination no spell ever surpassed Willis's monumental effort at Leeds where he literally looked immersed in a cocoon of concentration.On wicket with uneven bounce he exploited the conditions s to perfection causing the ball to rear from a good length and enabled England to rise from the depths of despair to create the most senstaional turnabout to win a game in the history of test cricket.
For clinical perfection none equalled Holding's 8 wicket haul at the Oval in 1976 where he resembled a Rolls Royce car more than any fast bowler ever on the flattest of tracks.Simply the epitome of pure pace bowling perfection blending speed though the air and movement of the pitch.
There has never been a more sustained pace bowling effort ever.Hadlee's 9-52 displayed the epitome of control and movement in pace bowling.
At Trinidad in 1994 Ambrose ressurected his team from the grave creating the impact of dynamite exploding to reach the pinnacle of glory taking 6 wickets in the final session of the penultimate day.The batsmen were perplexed with the impeccable length of Curtly bemused whether to play back or forward.
Imran Khan 's spell of 5-3 of 25 balls in Karachi in 1982-83 resembled skill and speed in pace bowling at it's supreme zenith.Can't forget his inswingesr dismissing Vishwanath when shouldering arms and penetrating the impregnable defence of Sunil Gavaskar before sending the stumps pf both Sandeep Patil and Kapil Dev cartwheeling.Like a hurricane intervening a sunny day.
Lillee took the classical art of fast bowling to it's highest watermark in the centenary test in 1977 at Melbourne blending,pace movement ,and accuracy and was also agression personified.
On a flat track at Old Trafford in 1988 Marshall gave glimpses of defying the laws of biomechanics with his magical banana swing and skidding bouncers.
In Sydney in 1989 on a turning track Marshall performed like a magician.
At Lords in 1997 Mcgrath symbolized fast-medium pace bowling perfection at it's supreme zenith blending pace ,control and movement in perfect proportion.
Versus Pakistan in 1977 at Trinidad in the 2nd test Croft was the ultimate epitome of fast bowling hostility skittling through a very strong batting line up.
Sarafraz Nawaz created the impact of creating a total reversal in the plot of an epic film when taking 7 wickets for i run at Melbourne in 1978-79.The Aussie batsmen collapsed from 305-3 to 310 like nine pins rolling.
At Melbourne in 1989-90 although in a losing cause Wasim Akram gave the best ever exhibition of fast bowling by a left -arm bowler literally taking the art or creative genius of pace bowling to it's greatest height.Arguably no paceman ever swung a cricket ball as much at such sustained speed or displayed as many or as subtle variations.
At Ahmedabad in 1983 v West Indies on a broken wicket Kapil Dev bowled like a metronome taking 9 wickets beguiling the likes of Viv Richards and Clive Lloyd.Single-handedly bore the brunt of a weak apace attack.
At Lords in 2001 Glen Mcgrath virtually duplicated his effort 4 years back at the same venue taking the skill of pace bowling to it's supreme height.Perfect concoction of speed,control and accuracy.
1.Curtly Ambrose-7-25 at Perth in 1992-93
2.Bob Willis 8-43 v Australia at Leeds in 1981
3.Michael Holding 8-92 at the Oval in 1976
4.Richard Hadlee 9-52 at Brisbane in 1985-86.
5.Curtly Ambrose 6-24 v England at Trinidad in 1994
6.Imran Khan 8-60 v India at Karachi in 1982-83
7.Dennis Lillee 6-26 at Melbourne in 1977
8.Malcolm Marshall 7-22 at Old Trafford
9.Malcolm Marshall 5-29 at Sydney in 1988-89
10.Glen Mcgrath 8-38 at Lords in 1997
11.Colin Croft 8-29 at Trinidad in 1977 v Pakistan
12.Sarafraz Nawaz 9-86 at Melbourne in 1978-79
13 Wasim Akram 6-62 at Melbourne in 1989-90
14.Kapil Dev 9-83 v West Indies at Ahmedabad
15.Glen Mcgrath 5-34 at Lords in 2001
Chose Ambrose's Perth spell at the top because I can't visualize a more scintillating effort of by a pace bowler .He literally caused a blitzkreig , ripping through a batting order,reminscent of flesh torn of a body or nine pins rolling.The disconcerting height created from a good length was almost unplayable.Reminded you of a steam roller on the field.It was a combination of speed,control and accuracy with Ambrose looking like a pace bowling machine more than anyone.
For sheer grit and determination no spell ever surpassed Willis's monumental effort at Leeds where he literally looked immersed in a cocoon of concentration.On wicket with uneven bounce he exploited the conditions s to perfection causing the ball to rear from a good length and enabled England to rise from the depths of despair to create the most senstaional turnabout to win a game in the history of test cricket.
For clinical perfection none equalled Holding's 8 wicket haul at the Oval in 1976 where he resembled a Rolls Royce car more than any fast bowler ever on the flattest of tracks.Simply the epitome of pure pace bowling perfection blending speed though the air and movement of the pitch.
There has never been a more sustained pace bowling effort ever.Hadlee's 9-52 displayed the epitome of control and movement in pace bowling.
At Trinidad in 1994 Ambrose ressurected his team from the grave creating the impact of dynamite exploding to reach the pinnacle of glory taking 6 wickets in the final session of the penultimate day.The batsmen were perplexed with the impeccable length of Curtly bemused whether to play back or forward.
Imran Khan 's spell of 5-3 of 25 balls in Karachi in 1982-83 resembled skill and speed in pace bowling at it's supreme zenith.Can't forget his inswingesr dismissing Vishwanath when shouldering arms and penetrating the impregnable defence of Sunil Gavaskar before sending the stumps pf both Sandeep Patil and Kapil Dev cartwheeling.Like a hurricane intervening a sunny day.
Lillee took the classical art of fast bowling to it's highest watermark in the centenary test in 1977 at Melbourne blending,pace movement ,and accuracy and was also agression personified.
On a flat track at Old Trafford in 1988 Marshall gave glimpses of defying the laws of biomechanics with his magical banana swing and skidding bouncers.
In Sydney in 1989 on a turning track Marshall performed like a magician.
At Lords in 1997 Mcgrath symbolized fast-medium pace bowling perfection at it's supreme zenith blending pace ,control and movement in perfect proportion.
Versus Pakistan in 1977 at Trinidad in the 2nd test Croft was the ultimate epitome of fast bowling hostility skittling through a very strong batting line up.
Sarafraz Nawaz created the impact of creating a total reversal in the plot of an epic film when taking 7 wickets for i run at Melbourne in 1978-79.The Aussie batsmen collapsed from 305-3 to 310 like nine pins rolling.
At Melbourne in 1989-90 although in a losing cause Wasim Akram gave the best ever exhibition of fast bowling by a left -arm bowler literally taking the art or creative genius of pace bowling to it's greatest height.Arguably no paceman ever swung a cricket ball as much at such sustained speed or displayed as many or as subtle variations.
At Ahmedabad in 1983 v West Indies on a broken wicket Kapil Dev bowled like a metronome taking 9 wickets beguiling the likes of Viv Richards and Clive Lloyd.Single-handedly bore the brunt of a weak apace attack.
At Lords in 2001 Glen Mcgrath virtually duplicated his effort 4 years back at the same venue taking the skill of pace bowling to it's supreme height.Perfect concoction of speed,control and accuracy.
