6 times a bowling pair took all 20 wickets in a Test

The result of a Test match is generally determined by the quality of bowlers a team possesses. If the bowlers fail to take 20 wickets, then the team doesn't win the match (unless of course, the opposition captain opts for a risky declaration). So, as one can imagine, taking 20 wickets is absolutely essential if a Test is to be won and hence, the bowling attack assumes all the more importance.

Usually, a bowling attack consists of 4 bowlers and they work as a team to dismiss the opposition. However, are 6 instances in Test cricket’s history when only 2 bowlers were needed to dismiss the entire opposition twice. Here is a closer look at those games.

#6 Hugh Trumble and Monty Noble against England at Melbourne, 1902

This was the first Test in which two bowlers took all 20 wickets and it was England who were at the receiving end of the double act from Hugh Trumble and Monty Noble. On a treacherous Melbourne pitch, Australia were dismissed for 161 but the right arm off-break of Trumble (3 for 38) and the mixture of medium pace and off-spin from Noble (7 for 17) destroyed England. They were dismissed for only 61 in 15.4 overs.

After Australia came good with the bat in the 2nd innings, England were set a target of 405. However, Trumble and Noble combined again to take 4 for 49 and 6 for 60 respectively to dismiss England for 175.

#5 George Hirst and Colin Blythe against Australia at Edgbaston, 1909

The 2nd time that a bowling pair took all 20 wickets in a Test match was about seven years after the first instance, and this time, it was Australia who were at the receiving end. In the first Test of the 1909 Ashes at Edgbaston, left-arm fast bowler George Hirst and left-arm orthodox spinner Colin Blythe combined brilliantly to steamroll Australia.

The visitors batted first but were all out for 74 in 46 overs as Hirst (4 for 28) and Blythe (6 for 44) delivered all of England's overs. England were then dismissed for 121 but the duo delivered the goods again to dismiss Australia for 151. They took 5 wickets apiece, giving away 58 runs. England eventually won the 3-day Test match by 10 wickets.

#4 Bert Vogler and Aubrey Faulkner against England at Johannesburg, 1910

The South African teams in the early 20th century possessed wonderful spin bowlers. Two of the finest among them were Bert Vogler and Aubrey Faulkner. Vogler was a famed leg-break and googly bowler, capable of deceiving batsmen with his action. On the other hand, Faulkner was a leg-spinner who bowled much faster than regulation spinners and was known to send down a wicked googly.

These two bowlers combined to completely annihilate England in the 1st Test of the series between the two teams at Johannesburg. After South Africa had made 208, England responded with 310 but all 10 of their wickets fell to Faulkner and Vogler. Faulkner picked up 5 for 120 while Vogler returned figures of 5 for 87.

Ultimately, England were set a target of 244 and in a closely-contested game, it was Vogler who dominated the visitors the second time of asking. He picked up 7 for 94 and received able support from Faulkner, who claimed 3 wickets for 40 runs. South African won the Test match by only 19 runs.

#3 Jim Laker and Tony Lock against Australia at Old Trafford, 1956

Jim Laker

Now, this particular Test match is still regarded as the Jim Laker Test due to the English off-spinner’s stupendous 19-wicket haul. The solitary wicket taken by left-arm spinner Tony Lock made the pair, by default, a duo to have taken all 20 wickets in a game.

England batted first and made 459 but when Australia batted, they remained frozen at the sight of Laker. He ran through their batting line-up with a haul of 9 for 37 and the visitors collapsed for only 84. Lock took the other wicket and gave away 37 runs.

Australia were asked to follow on and in the 2nd innings, Laker became the first bowler to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings. He picked up 10 for 53 in 51.2 overs to dismiss Australia for 205 as England ran away winners by an innings and 170 runs.

#2 Fazal Mahmood and Khan Mohammad against Australia at Karachi, 1956

In the early years of Test cricket in Pakistan, games were played on matting wickets and the nation’s earliest superstar Fazal Mahmood terrorised batsmen on those pitches with his seam movement. In the one-off Test against Australia back in 1956, he found the perfect partner in tireless fast bowler Khan Mohammad and the two broke the back of the visitors’ batting line-up at Karachi.

Australia batted first and Mohammad and Mahmood bowled unchanged for 53.1 overs, during the course of which Mahmood picked up 6 for 34 and Mohammad got 4 for 43 as the batting side collapsed for just 80.

Pakistan responded with 199 and then the same duo dismissed Australia for only 187. Mahmood returned figures of 7 for 80, while Mohammad picked up the rest of the wickets for 69 runs. Pakistan won comfortably by 9 wickets.

#1 Dennis Lillee and Bob Massie against England at Lord’s, 1972

This Test match will forever be known for the spectacular debut of Australian fast bowler Bob Massie and his incredible 16-wicket haul. Trailing the 1972 Ashes 1-0, Australia unleashed the debutant on the unsuspecting Englishmen and he picked up 8 for 84 as the hosts were dismissed for 272. Australian legend Dennis Lillee picked up 2 for 90.

Australia responded with 308 and eked out a narrow lead, but Massie carried on from he had left off earlier. His swing bowling brought about England’s downfall again and his dream figures of 8 for 53 were instrumental in dismissing them for only 116. As was the case in the 1st innings, Lillee picked up the other two wickets, this time conceding 50 runs. Australia ended up winning the Test by 8 wickets.