New Zealand fast bowler Tim Southee became the second fast bowler after legendary Richard Hadlee to take 50 Test wickets against India. He reached this milestone by picking up two wickets in India’s second innings in the ongoing first Test at Kanpur.
Southee, who is well regarded for his ability to swing the ball was at his lethal best in his very first spell, as he got Shreyas Iyer to nick the ball. Unfortunately, there was no first slip to take the catch. However, that prompted skipper Kane Williamson to get two slips and a short gully in the next over and the second slip which was placed way ahead of the mark and was wearing a helmet as protection. Tom Latham took a great catch to dismiss Mayank Agarwal.
Agarwal defended an in swinger with hard hands and as a result, the ball became airborne and Latham at the second slip did the rest. In the same over, he trapped Jadeja with an angled delivery from around the wicket and got him out Leg Before Wicket in a similar fashion to the first innings.
Southee now has 51 wickets to his name against India in only his 10th match. James Anderson of England has the most Test wickets against India. He has picked up 133 wickets in 34 matches.