Scott Boland storms into all-time list of quickest to 50 wickets after Ashes opener

Soumyajit Dutta

Quickest bowlers to 50 wickets in a country [Source: @ICC, @BCCI/X.com]Quickest bowlers to 50 wickets in a country [Source: @ICC, @BCCI/X.com]

After a fiery treat from the pacers in The Ashes opener at Perth, several records were broken, with Australia boasting the major accolades of them. Amongst them, Aussie quick Scott Boland, who took 4 wickets in the match, also became one of the history makers.

Notably, Boland made it to the top five of the quickest bowlers to take 50 wickets in a country, alongside a list that has names like Brett Lee. Hence, without much ado, let's take a look at the list of the bowlers who defied time with their fiesty spells.

5) Brett Lee - 2061 balls

The Australian legend Brett Lee, who had the most perfect mechanical bowling action in the history of cricket, ranks fifth on this list after Scott Boland took over. Brett Lee took only 2061 deliveries to scalp the fifth-fastest 50th wicket in Test cricket and he did so on Australian soil.

A Test veteran, Lee, who retired in 2012, boasts a massive record of scalping 310 wickets from his 76 Test match appearances. He was the face of pure aggression with peak technicality reflecting in his bowling. Lee bowled at an economy rate of 3.46 and also boasts 10 5-wicket hauls in his career.

4) Scott Boland - 1639 balls

The man of the hour, Scott Boland, reached his 50th Test wicket from 1639 balls, as he appeared in his 15th Test match for the country. Boland, a late bloomer, debuted in Test cricket four years ago and has been a formidable force with an on-and-off inclusion in Australia's squad ever since.

Clocking in at 130-140 kph, Boland is quick to read his opponents and trap them into their weakness. While he had limited appearances, he boasts an economy rate of 2.84 and 66 wickets in the format while having an incredible average of 13.47 while bowling in Australia.

3) Marco Jansen - 1633 balls

Marco Jansen, the towering menace from South Africa, surprisingly ranks third in the list, as he reached his 50th Test wicket in South Africa from 1633 balls. The 25-year-old, who has only 20 Test appearances, rose through the ranks quickly to find himself as a mainstay in the Proteas pace unit.

His overall stats justify his effectiveness, as he displays 82 wickets from 36 innings at an economy rate of 3.39 in Tests. In South Africa, Jansen records an average of 19.88 from 20 Test innings.

2) Kagiso Rabada - 1548 balls

Kagiso Rabada, the veteran South African quick, finds his place at the second position on this list with his 1548 balls and 50 wickets in South Africa. The 340-wicket taker in Test cricket boasts solid form at home with his 10 five-wicket hauls and four 10-wicket hauls while displaying an economy rate of 3.43.

Rabada bowls at an average speed in the 140-150 kph range and also has tricks up his sleeve to set up batters, especially at home, where he recorded the country's fastest 50 wickets. To say the least, Rabada is a nightmare for batters on dusty, bouncy pitches and his dominance speaks at home.

1) Vernon Philander - 1383 balls

Vernon Philander, aka, the surgeon, reached his 50th Test wickets from his first seven Tests off just 1383 deliveries, or 230.3 overs. The excellent all-rounder from South Africa had the ability to swing the ball both ways and was also an excellent attacker of the stumps with long spells.

Philander's stay in South Africa Test cricket saw him gather 224 wickets from 119 innings at an economy rate of 2.63. At home, the 40-year-old bagged 146 wickets while averaging 19.08 before retiring from cricket in 2020.