Jasprit Bumrah’s 32 is not the most wickets in a five-Test series by a long shot

Jonhenry Wilson 05 Jan 2025

Jasprit Bumrah has been relatively prolific for India in Test cricket.

Jasprit Bumrah took 32 wickets during India’s Test series against Australia, which concluded with victory for the Australians recently.

But Bumrah does not hold the record for the most wickets in a five-Test series.

In fact, he was far off.

Here, we remember the bowlers who took the most number of wickets in a five-match Test series.

9. Bert Vogler – 36 wickets in 5 Tests

The South African leg-spinner was in tremendous form during England’s tour of 1909-10. His tally included a match haul of 12 in Johannesburg.

8. Hugh Tayfield – 37 wickets in 5 Tests

The season was 1956-57 and the opposition England, as the South African off-spinner. He, too, capitalised during the Johannesburg Test en route to 13 wickets for the match.

7. Bill Whitty – 37 wickets in 5 Tests

South Africa were in Australia in 1910-11 and the Aussie left-arm seamer took full advantage against the tourists. He took four four-wicket hauls and two five-fors.

Also read: The 25 bowlers who took a wicket with their first ball in Test cricket

6. Mitchell Johnson – 37 wickets in 5 Tests

Another fiery left-armer, Johnson was at full tilt for Australia against England during the Ashes in Australia in 2013-14. His bowling average was under 14 for the series.

5. Maurice Tate – 38 wickets in 5 Tests

During the 1924-25 Ashes series, this spinner-turned-seamer impressed throughout for England against Australia. He bowled a marathon 316 overs and claimed five five-fors.

4. Alec Bedser – 39 wickets in 5 Tests

England’s prolific right-arm seamer accounted for almost 40 Australian scalps during the Ashes series of 1953. He took full advantage of the home conditions.

3. Shane Warne – 40 wickets in 5 Tests

The left, great leg-spinner was at his brilliant best during the Ashes series of 2005. His haul included two match 10-wicket hauls. England still won the series, though.

2. Clarrie Grimmett – 44 wickets in 5 Tests

The Australian leg-spinner averaged almost nine wickets per match during the 1935-36 tour of South Africa. His haul included three match 10-fors.

1. Jim Laker – 46 wickets in 5 Tests

The England off-spinner averaged more than nine wickets per match during the 1956 Ashes series. He took all 10 innings wickets during the Manchester Test.

Laker remains one of only three men to have taken all 10 wickets in a Test innings. The others are India’s Anil Kumble and New Zealand’s Ajaz Patel.

These are some prolific numbers, indeed, from a string of outstanding Test seamers and spinners over the years. Whether others will join this list in the future remains in the balance.