Player to Take Fastest 50 Wickets in Test Cricket
Table of content:
Introduction
Getting to the very first “fifty wickets” milestone is one of the most crucial parts of a bowler’s career. Playing in international matches, against top-tier teams with numerous world-class batsmen, truly tests the limits and abilities of an emerging bowler. And getting to such an accomplishment in the Test cricket format within the shortest time possible is genuinely remarkable. In this article, we will take a look at some of these legendary players who have redefined the word “fast” with their ability to breeze through wickets. The list of top 7 bowlers to take the fastest 50 wickets in Test cricket is based on the total number of matches they required to reach this milestone and not the time duration.
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Top 7 Bowlers to take Fastest 50 Wickets in Test Cricket.
1. Charles Turner - 6 Test Matches
The first name on this list is Charles Turner, a right-arm fast-medium bowler for the Australian side, who has claimed close to 1000 wickets in First-Class cricket and represented the country in 17 Test games. His debut Test match was against England on January 28th 1887 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Since his first appearance, it took him about 1 year and 215 days to claim his first 50 Test wickets.
It was during his 6th Test match against England in Manchester on August 30th 1888, when he once again proved his outstanding bowling ability against their Ashes nemesis and went on to claim his Test Career’s 50th wicket in style. He played for the Australian side until February of 1895 and in the total 17 Test matches, he took 101 wickets with a BBI of 7/43, BBM of 12/87 and an economy rate of 1.59. Charles Turner is truly an Australian legendary bowler, who is in the first spot as a player to claim the fastest test 50 wickets.
2. Tom Richardson - 7 Test Matches
The second player to get the fastest 50 wickets in Test cricket is another legendary English cricket named Tom Richardson. He was a right-arm fast bowler for the English side and started his Test career with his debut match against Australia on August 24th 1893 at the Emirates Old Trafford. And after 2 years and 303 days, during his 7th Test game, Richardson reached this beautiful milestone in his career.
It was during a match against Australia at the Lord’s on 22nd June 1896, when he swept the stumps off the striker’s wicket, dismissing his 50th victim. Richardson is considered to be one of the best fast bowlers in Test cricket in the initial years of the sport and has wonderful First-Class and international Test cricket bowling figures. In the total of 14 matches that he had played, he claimed 88 wickets with 8/94 BBI, 13/244 BBM and an economy rate of 2.81. Richardson's record of the fastest 50 wickets in Test cricket still remains at the top spot in English cricket of all time.
3. Vernon Philander - 7 Test Matches
South African bowling all-rounder Vernon Philander’s fastest 50 wickets in Test cricket milestone is the most recent one out of the top 7 players. Philander was a right-arm fast-medium bowler for the South African side, who debuted in International cricket back on November 9th 2011 against team Australia at the Newlands.
The initial phase of his career was blooming, and it took him 135 days to reach his first 50 career Test wickets. It happened during a match against New Zealand at Wellington on March 23rd 2012, which was Philander’s 7th Test game. With this, he became the quickest to 50 test wickets in all of South Africa. As a bowling allrounder, Philander took part in 64 Test matches and scored 1779 runs and took away 224 wickets with a 6/21 BBI and 10/102 BBM. He is also the second bowler to claim 50 wickets in test fastest, within 7 matches.
4. Fred Spofforth - 8 Test Matches
Frederick Spofforth was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm fast-medium bowler, who has represented the Australian side in cricket for about a decade. He started his Test cricket debut against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 31st, 1877. About 5 years and 323 days later, during his 8th Test match against England in Sydney on February 17th 1883, Spofforth claimed his long-awaited fifty wickets feat.
Even though the duration of days might sound like a long time, in terms of total matches he still claims the fourth top spot with his fastest 50 wickets in Test cricket of all time. Frederick Spofforth continued to play ten more Test matches after this, and in the total 18 Test games that he had played, he claimed 94 total wickets with a BBI of 7/44, BBM of 14/90 and an economy rate of 1.66.
5. Alf Valentine - 8 Test Matches
Alf Valentine is one of the greatest bowlers in the history of West Indian cricket of all time. He currently holds the top fifth spot with the remarkable achievement of his first 50 Test wickets in just 8 matches. Alf Valentine was a left-arm orthodox bowler for West Indies and started his Test debut back on June 8th 1950 against England at the Emirates Old Trafford.
It took him 1 year and 206 days to achieve this record, during a match against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 31st, 1951. Valentine is also the only spinner in the top 7 list of bowlers who have reached the fastest 50 wickets in Test cricket. His phenomenal record of the fastest 50 wickets in Test cricket in just 8 matches remains at the top of West Indies cricket history. In the total 36 Test matches that he played, he claimed 139 wickets with a BBM of 11/204 and BBI of 8/104.
6. Rodney Hogg - 8 Test Matches
The sixth player fastest 50 wicket taker in Test cricket is Australian cricketer Richard Hogg. He was a right-arm fast bowler for his national team and was known for his super-aggressive deliveries. Hogg’s Test debut was against England at The Gabba on December 1st 1978 and just 113 days later, he took his 50th Test wicket.
It was during his 8th Test match against Pakistan at Perth on 24th March 1979 that he attended this milestone. With this, he became one of the fastest to take 50 wickets in test cricket list of all time. He continued to play for Australia till 1985, and in a total of 38 Test matches, he bowled away 123 wickets with 6/74 BBI, 10/66 BMM and an economy rate of 2.98.
7. Terry Alderman - 8 Test Matches
Australian cricketer Terry Alderman was a right-arm fast-medium bowler, who represented the national side in Test and ODI cricket from 1981 to 1991. He began his Test cricket journey with his debut back on June 18th 1981 versus England at Trent Bridge and within just 162 days he got his 50th Test cricket wicket.
It was during his 8th Test match against Pakistan at Brisbane played on November 27th 1981. With this, Alderman currently holds the seventh spot as one of the bowlers to reach the fastest fifty wickets in test cricket. In the total 41 Test games that he played, he claimed 170 wickets with a BBI of 6/47, BBM of 10/151 and an economy rate of 2.71.
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