Welcome to the latest instalment of our most recent blog series Top Tens, which is posting roughly every Sunday, Australian time. Last week we talked about our top 10 favourite batting performances of Australians in test cricket matches over the past 10 years. Not sure of the rules of cricket? Read the first top 10’s blog about cricket here!
This week and the next 4 weeks of ‘top tens’ will be cricket-related as well as I mention about top 10 test fielding performances by Australians, then the same (batting and fielding) for ODI’s and T20 Internationals’!
So without any further ado, I will dive in, and talk briefly why I love these bowling and fielding Test cricket performances by Aussies, and can watch them again and again!
Warne’s 700 test wicket in 2006; v England– How can you not watch Warne’s 700th test wicket (Andrew Strauss in 2006 Boxing Day- 4th Ashes Test) and smile? Shane was and still is Australia’s best spin bowler, and his career will undoubtedly be one of the greatest ever in cricket history, even as the years continue to progress!
Michael Clarke’s matchwinning 3 wicket over 2008; v India– Australia were on the ropes, needing 3 wickets from the final over of the Sydney test in 2008, against India. If the 3 wickets weren’t taken, Australia would lead India 1-0 out of a 4 match series, with the 2nd test being a draw. But Michael Clarke was tossed the ball for the second last over of the last day, and remarkably took all the 3 remaining wickets! It was definitely a sight to see, and one to see again!
Peter Siddle hat trick 2010- Ashes- Gabba 2010; v England– Not many bowlers have ever claimed hat tricks (3 wickets in 3 consecutive balls) before, let alone in test cricket, but Peter Siddle did exactly that in 2010 in the first test at Brisbane in the Ashes. Check out the remarkable wickets here!
Nathan Lyon 5/34 on debut 2011; v Sri Lanka– Since Shane Warne’s retirement, Australia has been on the search for a quality spinner to replace him. And ever since Nathan Lyon’s 5 wickets on debut in 2011 against Sri Lanka, he has never looked back, and has filled the void quite nicely.
Harris- 4/32- 2014; v South Africa– Ryan Harris is one of Australia most hardworking and determined bowlers ever. Earlier this year, he defied age, weariness, and a dodgy knee, to bowl Australia to an improbable victory on a crumbling pitch in South Africa. This summer, Harris will definitely slot into the lineup; just look at these highlights to see why!
McGrath- 8/24- 2004; v Pakistan– Glenn McGrath was to pace bowling what Shane Warne was to spin bowling. In 2004, he took his best bowling figures of 8/24 against Pakistan, and it still brings a smile to my face today when I watch the replays!
Johnson- 7/68- 2014; v South Africa– Mitchell Johnson has had an up and down career, and has been dropped a few times in his career. However one such bowling performance that has proved that he belongs at Test level is earlier this year, where he ran through the South Africans on his way to 7/68. What a devastating and ruthless bowler!
Johnson’s 37 wickets- Ashes 2013/2014; v England– Speaking of Johnson, he had an extremely brilliant summer last year, with his 37 wickets across all 5 Ashes tests v England a joy to watch again and again! Check out all of the wickets here!
James Pattinson- 5/27 on debut- 2011; v NZ– One of Australia’s current young fast bowlers, who is sure to feature heavily in tests in the upcoming years, is James Pattinson. In 2011, he debuted with a 5 wicket haul against New Zealand; what do you think of the wickets? Do you think Pattinson will have a long, bright, career ahead of him (after he recovers from injuries, of course…)?
Pat Cummins- 6/79 on debut- 2011; v South Africa– Also debuting in 2011 was Pat Cummins. He has only played one test, but collected 6/79 in South Africa, and hit the winning runs for Australia during their chase as well. Injuries have plagued him and set him back in his career, but I believe that he will be a force to be reckoned with in the coming years!
So there you have it, my top ten favourite Australian bowling and fielding performances in Test Cricket. So, what are yours? Let me know so that we can compare and have a healthy discussion!
Next week we’ll be talking about batting performances by Australia in an ODI!