In cricket, a five-wicket haul (also known as a "five–for" or "fifer")[1] refers to a bowler taking five or more wickets in a single innings. This is regarded as a notable achievement,[2] and as of December 2015 only 45 bowlers have taken at least 15 five-wicket hauls at international level in their cricketing careers.[3] Richie Benaud, a leg spinner and former captain of the Australia cricket team, played 63 Tests for his country between 1952 and 1964.[4] He took 248 wickets at an average of 27.03, including 16 five-wicket hauls.[4][5] The cricket almanack Wisden named him one of their Cricketers of the Year in 1962.[6] He was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame in 2007,[7] and into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame as one of the inaugural members in January 2009.[8][9] Leo McKinstry, a cricket writer, in 1998 described Benaud as "one of cricket's greatest legends" and "one of the great all-rounders", and further noted him being the first to take 200 wickets and make 2,000 runs in Tests.[10]
Benaud made his Test debut in January 1952 against the West Indies at the Sydney Cricket Ground, a match Australia won by 202 runs.[11] His first Test five-wicket haul came in the first match of the 1956–57 series against India at the Corporation Stadium.[n 1] He took 7 wickets for 72 runs in the first innings of the match, his best bowling figures for an innings.[12] Benaud took his solitary pair of five-wicket hauls in the third Test of the series at the Eden Gardens. He accumulated 11 wickets for 105 runs in the match, his career-best performance in Test cricket.[12][13] Benaud claimed his 16 five-wicket hauls against five different opponents, and Australia never lost any of the games on such instances. He was most successful against India and South Africa, taking 5 five-wicket hauls against each side.[12] Benaud took his five-wicket hauls at 12 cricket grounds, including 11 at venues outside Australia.[12] As of August 2014, he is thirty-first among all-time combined five-wicket haul takers.[n 2]
- ^ "Swinging it for the Auld Enemy – An interview with Ryan Sidebottom". The Scotsman. 17 August 2008. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
... 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. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ "Records / Combined Test, ODI and T20I records / Bowling records / Most five-wickets-in-an-innings in a career". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
- ^ a b "Richie Benaud". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ "Records / Test matches / Bowling records – Most five-wickets-in-an-innings in a career". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ "Wisden:Cricketer of the year 1962 – Richie Benaud". Wisden. ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ Coverdale, Brydon (4 February 2007). "Benaud and Macartney join Hall of Fame". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ "ICC and FICA launch Cricket Hall of Fame". ESPNcricinfo. 2 January 2009. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ Agencies (11 July 2011). "Warne gets Hall of Fame honour". Dawn. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ McKinstry, Leo (13 December 1998). "Benaud ready to write a new chapter in his illustrious story (13 December 1998)". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ "West Indies tour of Australia, 1951/52: Test series – 5th Test". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Statistics / Statsguru / Richie Benaud / Test matches". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ "Australia tour of India, 1956/57 : Test series – 3rd Test". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ "Records / Combined Test, ODI and T20I records/ Bowling records – Most five-wickets-in-an-innings in a career". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
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