5 Bowlers With Best Bowling Figures In Day/Night Tests

Before 2015, Test matches were only played under the daylight. The Test matches used to start early morning and the day was finished before the evening. However, International Cricket Council (ICC) permitted day-night Test matches in 2012. Three years later, the first-ever Day-Night Test was played between Australia and New Zealand at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide in November 2015.

So far, 16 Day/Night Test matches have been played between different countries. All the major Test-playing nations i.e. Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, West Indies, South Africa, England, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Bangladesh have played at least one Day/Night Test. In this listicle, we take a glance at bowling records in such Test games. Here are 5 bowlers with the best bowling figures in Day/Night Tests.

5 Bowlers With The Best Bowling Figures In Day/Night Tests

5. Ishant Sharma- 9/78

Ishant Sharma holds the 5th spot in this list with the best bowling figures of 9-78 in a Day/Night Test. Bangladesh toured India in November 2019 for a three-match ODI and two-match Test series. The 2nd Test match during the tour was a Day/Night Test. In the match, Ishant Sharma scalped a five-wicket haul in the first innings after conceding 22 runs. Bangladesh were bowled out for just 106 in the first innings.

India responded with 347-9 (d) with a century by skipper Virat Kohli (136). Ishant Sharma picked 4 wickets in the 2nd innings after giving away 56 runs. Bangladesh were bowled out for just 195 and India won the match by an innings and 46 runs. In total, the right-arm pacer Sharma picked 9 wickets for 78 runs and won the player of the match award.

4. Jason Holder- 9/60

West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder has the 4th best bowling figures in a Day/Night Test with 9/60. In May-June 2018, Sri Lanka toured West Indies for a three-match Test series out of which the 3rd game was a Day/Night Test. Batting first, West Indies were bowled out for 204 with the highest score by skipper Jason Holder (74).

Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 154 with a 4-wicket haul by Holder. The right-arm pacer picked 4 wickets for 19 runs.

In the 2nd innings, West Indies were bowled out for just 93 runs by a three-wicket haul by Sri Lanka’s Suranga Lakmal and Kasun Rajitha.

The visitors needed 144 runs for victory in the 2nd innings. Jason Holder bowled a spectacular spell of 5/41 but he could not stop Sri Lanka from winning the game. Sri Lanka won the match by 4 wickets. West Indies skipper came out with the bowling figures of 9/60 in the match. He was adjudged player of the match for his outstanding bowling.

3. Devendra Bishoo- 10/174

West Indies spinner Devendra Bishoo is the 3rd person on this list. He picked 10 wickets for 174 runs during a Day/Night Test. Pakistan and West Indies locked horns in a T20I, ODI, and Test series in UAE during September-October 2016. The first encounter of the three-match Test series was a Day/Night Test. In the 1st innings, Pakistan smashed mammoth 579-3 (d) on the scoreboard with an unbeaten triple century by Azhar Ali (302).  Devendra Bishoo managed to pick 2 wickets in the innings for 125 runs.

West Indies were bowled out of 357 runs in the 1st innings. With a 222-run lead, Pakistan’s batting totally collapsed in the 2nd innings. They were bowled out for just 123 as Bishoo picked 8 wickets. The right-arm spinner crushed the opposition with his 8-wicket haul while conceding 49 runs.

With a 346-run target, West Indies had a narrow chance of victory. However, they fell 56 runs short in the end, getting bowled out for 289. Pakistan won the match by 56 runs but Devendra Bishoo definitely bagged the limelight for his fabulous spell of 10/174 in the match.

2. Pat Cummins- 10/62

Australian pacer Pat Cummins has the second-best bowling figures in a Day/Night Test with 10/62. Sri Lanka toured Australia for a two-match Test series in January-February 2019. The 1st game was a Day/Night Test. Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 144 in the first innings. Current world no.1 Test bowler Pat Cummins picked 4 wickets for 39 runs. Australia responded with 323-10 in the 1st innings.

Facing a 179-run lead after the end of 1st innings, Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 139 in the 2nd innings. This time, the right-arm pacer Cummins bagged 6 wickets for 23 runs. Australia won the match by an innings and 40 runs and Cummins emerged with bowling figures of 10/62 in the match. He was also adjudged player of the match for his incredible bowling.

1. Axar Patel- 11/70

Indian spinner Axar Patel has the best bowling figures in a Day/Night Test with 11/70. In February-March 2021, England toured India for a full-fledged series comprising of 4 Tests, 5 T20Is, and 3 ODIs. The Test series was part of the ICC World Test Championship. The 3rd Test match was a Day/Night one. England were bowled out for just 112 in the first innings. The spin duo of Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin crushed England’s batting. The left-arm spinner Patel picked 6 wickets for 38 runs in the innings.

India were also bowled out for a low total of 145, managing a lead of just 33 runs. In the 2nd innings, England were bowled out for just 81. Axar picked 5 wickets for 32 runs while Ashwin accounted for a fifer. With a 49-run target, India won the match by 10 wickets with ease. With 11 wickets for 70 runs, Axar Patel bagged the limelight in the game and was awarded player of the match.