In cricket, a five-wicket haul (also known as a "five-for" or "fifer")[1][2] refers to a bowler taking five or more wickets in a single innings. This is regarded as a notable achievement.[3] As of July 2024, 173 cricketers have taken a five-wicket haul on debut in a Test match.[4] Players from 11 teams that have permanent Test status have picked up five-wicket hauls on their debut, apart from Ireland.[4] This comprises 52 of them being taken by England cricketers, 34 by Australia, 25 by South Africa, 12 by Pakistan, 10 by West Indies, 10 by New Zealand, 9 by India, 8 by Bangladesh, 6 by Sri Lanka, 2 by Zimbabwe, and 2 by Afghanistan.[5]
Australian cricketer Billy Midwinter was the first bowler in the history of Test cricket to take a five-wicket haul on debut.[4] He took five wickets for 78 runs in the first innings of the inaugural Test match in March 1877 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Two other players, Englishman Alfred Shaw (five for 38) and Australian Tom Kendall (seven for 55), also took fifers in the same match. Midwinter's and Kendall's performances ensured Australia's 45-run victory over England.[6] Albert Trott's eight wickets for 43 runs in the second innings of the third Test of the series against England in 1894–95, are the best bowling analysis by any bowler on Test debut.[4][7][8] Six, seventeen and fourty-six bowlers have taken eight, seven and six wickets respectively in a Test innings on debut. [7] The latest cricketer to achieve this feat is Gus Atkinson with 5/61 against West Indies.[9]
As of 2024, 12 players have picked up two five-wicket hauls on their Test debut. English cricketer Fred Martin was the first player to do so whereas England's Gus Atkinson is the latest bowler to take two five-wicket hauls on debut.[10]
- ^ Buckle, Greg (30 April 2007). "Pigeon's almost perfect sendoff". Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 15 August 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
McGrath didn't get the five-for that he had hoped for...
- ^ "Swinging it for the Auld Enemy – An interview with Ryan Sidebottom". The Scotsman. 17 August 2008. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
... I'd rather take fifers (five wickets) for England ...
- ^ Pervez, M. A. (2001). A Dictionary of Cricket. Orient Blackswan. p. 31. ISBN 978-81-7370-184-9.
- ^ a b c d "Statistics/Statsguru/Test matches/Bowling records/Overall figures (by years)". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ "Bowling records: Test matches". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ "1st Test: Australia v England at Melbourne, Mar 15–19, 1877". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 27 November 2010. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
- ^ a b "Statistics/Statsguru/Test matches/Bowling records/Overall figures". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
- ^ "3rd Test: Australia v England at Adelaide, Jan 11–15, 1895". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
- ^ "Statistics/Statsguru/Test matches/Bowling records/Overall figures". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
- ^ "Statistics/Statsguru/Test matches/Bowling records/Overall figures (two fifers on debut)". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 May 2021.