Who bowled the most no-balls in a Test match? The list also includes great bowlers from Pakistan and Sri Lanka

New Delhi. In the game of cricket, it is common for a bowler, especially a fast bowler, to ‘overstep’, but if a player does this repeatedly, it becomes a cause of trouble for any team. Many times, in an attempt to gain extra speed or when the rhythm of bowling is disturbed, fast bowlers bowl no-balls. In the 147-year history of Test cricket, many bowlers have bowled 30 or more no-balls (including the runs scored on these balls) in a match.

The record of throwing the most no-balls in a Test is in the name of former England captain and legendary fast bowler Bob Willis who threw a total of 34 no-balls in both innings of the Edgbaston Test against Australia in 1981. In other words, due to Willis, the opposition team got about six extra overs (two balls less) to play. The list of bowlers who threw the most no-balls in a Test includes the names of one legendary fast bowler each from Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Pakistan’s left-arm fast bowler Wasim Akram has thrown 32 no-balls in a Test and Sri Lanka’s left-arm fast bowler Chaminda Vaas has thrown 30 no-balls.

Willis had made an ‘unwanted’ record against Australia
Bob Willis (late), who played 90 Tests and 64 ODIs for England between 1971 and 1984, bowled a total of 34 no-balls in both innings of the 1981 Edgbaston Test against Australia. The tall Willis captained England in 18 Tests. Willis took 325 wickets (best 8/43) in Test cricket and 80 wickets (best 4/11) in ODIs, but he/she was also infamous for bowling no-balls. Willis, who bowled 941 no-balls in Test cricket, has a bowling average of 25.20 in this format. Apart from Edgbaston, Willis also came into the limelight by bowling 30 no-balls in the 1981 Lord’s Test against Australia.

An unknown batsman holds the record for scoring the most runs without getting out in Tests

West Indies’ Patterson bowled 33 no-balls in the Perth Test
After Willis, the name of West Indies’ Patrick Patterson comes next in terms of bowling the most no-balls in a Test. Patterson, who looked like a boxer due to his/her strong physique, used to bowl with a long run-up, due to which he/she was able to achieve a good speed. However, in this attempt, Patterson often lost his/her way and also bowled no-balls. In the Perth Test against Australia in December 1988, he/she bowled 33 no-balls. Patterson played 28 Tests and 59 ODIs for the Indies between 1986 and 1993, taking 93 wickets in Test cricket and 90 wickets in ODIs.

Left-handed bowler who took the most number of wickets on the 1st ball of an ODI match

When Wasim Akram bowled 32 no-balls

Wasim Akram (1984 – 2003) is known as the best left-arm fast bowler of all time. Akram (Wasim Akram), who became a headache for the world’s famous batsmen with the speed and swing of his/her balls, took 414 wickets (best 7/119) in 104 Tests and 502 wickets (best 5/15) in 356 ODIs, but many times he/she used to do ‘over stepping’ in an attempt to bowl at a fast pace. In the Manchester Test against England in 1992, Wasim registered his/her name in this special club by bowling 32 no-balls.

Saw Lara’s 501 run innings and also Hanif’s 499, played cricket from England

Thompson, who played only two Tests, has a record of 31 no-balls
West Indies’ Patterson Thompson’s (1996-1997) international career was limited to just two Tests and two ODIs, but he/she made headlines for the wrong reasons by bowling 31 no-balls in a Test. Thompson bowled these 30 no-balls in the Bridgetown Test against New Zealand in 1996. This right-arm fast bowler took 5 wickets in Tests and 2 wickets in ODIs.

Played only one Test and one ODI, neither took wickets nor scored runs, garnered attention for wrong reasons

Two Sri Lankan bowlers have bowled 30 no-balls each in Tests

Two Sri Lankan fast bowlers Champaka Ramanayake and Chaminda Odor (Chaminda Vaas) also holds the unwanted record of bowling 30 no-balls in a Test. Ramanayake played 18 Tests and 62 ODIs for Sri Lanka between 1986 and 1995. This right-handed bowler, who took 44 wickets in Tests and 68 wickets in ODIs, bowled 30 no-balls against Australia in the 1992 Colombo Test. On the other hand, Chaminda Vaas bowled 30 no-balls against Pakistan in the 2001-02 Lahore Test. Vaas, who played for Sri Lanka from 1994 to 2009, is considered one of Sri Lanka’s best fast bowlers of all time. he/she has 355 wickets in 111 Tests (best 7/71) and 400 wickets in 322 ODIs (best 8/19) to his/her name.

tag: Numbers Game, Test cricket, wasim akram