Cricket, a sport often dominated by batsmen, occasionally witnesses extraordinary bowling performances that leave a lasting mark on the game’s history. Some of these exceptional feats, however, come in a losing cause, underscoring the individual brilliance overshadowed by the team’s defeat. Here are four of the most remarkable bowling performances in Test cricket that ended in a losing cause:
1. Ajaz Patel – 10/119 vs India (Mumbai, 2021)
Ajaz Patel etched his name into cricket folklore by becoming the third bowler in Test history to take all 10 wickets in an innings. Achieving this rare feat during the second Test against India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Patel delivered a marathon spell, finishing with figures of 10/119 in 47.5 overs. His spell included the wickets of top-order batsmen such as Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Virat Kohli.
Despite his heroic effort, New Zealand was outplayed in the match, eventually losing by 372 runs. Patel’s achievement remains a testament to individual excellence, even in the face of a comprehensive team defeat.
2. Kapil Dev – 9/83 vs West Indies (Ahmedabad, 1983)
Kapil Dev, one of India’s greatest all-rounders, produced a scintillating bowling performance during the third Test against the West Indies at Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad. In the second innings, Kapil took 9 wickets for 83 runs, his career-best figures.
Despite his effort, India fell short of chasing a target of 242, getting bowled out for just 103 runs. The match ended in a 138-run defeat for India. Kapil’s performance, though not enough to secure a win, remains one of the most memorable in the annals of Test cricket.
3. Jack Noreiga – 9/95 vs India (Port of Spain, 1971)
Jack Noreiga, a lesser-known West Indian off-spinner, delivered a standout performance in the second Test of the India tour of the West Indies in 1971. At Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain, Noreiga took 9 wickets for 95 runs in India’s first innings, a feat that placed him among the greats.
However, his brilliant effort could not prevent India from securing a seven-wicket victory, as the visiting side dominated the match, led by Dilip Sardesai’s century and Srinivas Venkataraghavan’s five-wicket haul. Despite the loss, Noreiga’s bowling performance remains a significant achievement in West Indian cricket history.
4. Keshav Maharaj – 9/129 vs Sri Lanka (Colombo, 2018)
Keshav Maharaj’s remarkable performance in the second Test against Sri Lanka at the SSC Stadium in Colombo was another example of individual brilliance in a losing cause. Maharaj took 9 wickets for 129 runs in Sri Lanka’s first innings, becoming the second South African to take nine wickets in a Test innings.
His efforts restricted Sri Lanka to 338, but South Africa’s batting faltered in both innings, and they ultimately lost the match by 199 runs. Maharaj’s figures, which included 12 wickets in the match, are among the best in South African Test history, yet the victory eluded his side.
These performances highlight the bittersweet nature of cricket, where individual brilliance can sometimes be overshadowed by the team’s overall performance. Each of these bowlers delivered spellbinding efforts, etching their names into the history books, even as their teams fell short on the scoreboard.
