![Most Test five-fers by Asians in SENA countries [Source: @BCCI/x]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1752244066296_england_vs_india.jpg?type=mq)
Most Test five-fers by Asians in SENA countries [Source: @BCCI/x]
SENA – South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia; remains the toughest frontier for Asian teams in Test cricket. In these seam-and-bounce-heavy conditions, victories are rare and hard-earned. Be it relentless fast bowlers or crafty spinners, it is often the bowlers who script those historic wins in such countries.
A five-wicket haul in these hostile arenas for an Asian bowler is more than just a mere stat, it is a statement of authority. Here, we take a look at five Asian bowlers with the highest number of five-wicket hauls in Tests to their names, exclusively in SENA countries.
5. Kapil Dev – 7
Former Indian captain Kapil Dev picked up 23 five-wicket hauls in his glittering 131-match Test career. The legendary fast bowler snared seven of them against SENA nations away from home. Kapil claimed as many as five five-fers in Australia alone, which includes his near career-best bowling figures of 8-106 at the Adelaide Oval back in December 1985.
The World Cup winning cricketer secured his remaining two five-wicket hauls in England, at Edgbaston in July 1979 and at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in June 1982 respectively.
4. Imran Khan – 8
Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan played just 29 of his 88 Test matches in SENA countries. Notably, the legendary paceman still managed to accumulate eight five-wicket hauls between the years 1971 and 1990. While Imran snared 45 wickets in just 13 Tests in Australia, the cricketer seemed to enjoy a better track record in English conditions, where he wreaked havoc with 47 scalps in just 19 innings at an average of 24.63.
Overall, he picked up three five-wickets hauls in Australia, four in England and one in New Zealand to aggregate eight five-fers from 46 innings in SENA countries.
3. Muthiah Muralidaran – 10
Arguably the greatest spin bowler of all time, Sri Lankan great Muthiah Muralidaran harvested 10 five-wicket hauls in just 22 matches in SENA nations. Sans Australia, the legendary off-spinner managed to pick up at least one five-fer in every country he played in, including three on bouncy South African surfaces and seven in swing and seam-friendly pitches of England (five) and New Zealand (two) combined.
He also held exceptional bowling averages of just 19.20 in England and 19.96 in New Zealand, thus signifying his wicket-taking pedigree, regardless of the playing conditions on offer.
2. Wasim Akram – 11
Wasim Akram accounted for nearly half of his career Test five-wicket hauls (25) in SENA countries with 11 five-fers. The legendary fast bowler and former Pakistan captain played 32 SENA matches, including nine in Australia and 14 in England. While Akram picked up just three five-fers in Australia and managed to snare a couple in English conditions, the former cricketer harvested a staggering haul of six five-fers in the seven Test matches he played in New Zealand.
In New Zealand, Wasim Akram also enjoyed one of his best bowling averages, that of 17.18.
1. Jasprit Bumrah – 11
Unlike other fast bowlers, India’s pace trump card Jasprit Bumrah is one Asian who prefers bowling in SENA countries even more than in his own country, at least as per the stats. While Bumrah has collected 15 five-wicket hauls in his 47-match Test career overall, he picked up 11 of them in SENA nations in just 62 innings spanning 33 Tests.
A crucial figure of India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy series triumph in Australia back in 2018-19, the legendary Indian paceman has snared four five-fers ‘Down Under’, three from eight matches in South Africa, and five from 16 Tests in English conditions.
