Greatest Wicketless Spells

[subshakerz]

As the title suggests, looking for examples of particular spells you have seen, perhaps 4-5 overs or so, which produced the high quality of bowling but yielding no benefits.

The example that sticks out would be Donald's famous battle with Atherton. Another one that sticks in mind would be a spell with the new ball by Steyn in 2009 against Paul Collingwood, when he beat the beat a dozen times and was as unplayable as I can remember. England saved that match with one wicket left.

 

[The Sean]

I once took 0-25 off 18 overs, with four dropped catches, countless plays and misses, at least two LBWs turned down that I thought should have been given, and eight of the runs I conceded coming from edges through slips for four.

So yeah, it's probably Donald, Steyn or me. All on very similar levels.

 

[ankitj]

Bumrah bowls many such frustrating spells. Or that's how I feel anyway.

 

[Daemon]

Lyon between his 399 and 400th

 

[TheJediBrah]

Mick Lewis 0-113 at the Wanderers unlucky not to get a scalp

 

[anil1405]

Imran Tahir in the 2015 World Cup semi final.

 

[Lillian Thomson]

Wasim Akram once bowled a four over spell and had 13 chances dropped in the slips.

 

[h_hurricane]

24 innings out of a 44 innings career by Rubel Hossain have been great wicketless unlucky efforts.

Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

stats.espncricinfo.com

 

[Migara]

Bumrah bowls many such frustrating spells. Or that's how I feel anyway.

He has joined the club created by Javagal Srinath

 

[nightprowler10]

Wasim Akram once bowled a four over spell and had 13 chances dropped in the slips.

Yes and if I recall correctly it was off 13 different batsmen so they should all have been 13 wickets.

 

[trundler]

Lock during Laker's ten-fer.

 

[Slifer]

I once took 0-25 off 18 overs, with four dropped catches, countless plays and misses, at least two LBWs turned down that I thought should have been given, and eight of the runs I conceded coming from edges through slips for four.

So yeah, it's probably Donald, Steyn or me. All on very similar levels.

Haha

 

[Marius]

There was a Morkel spell against Michael Clarke once which brought to mind those Donald and Steyn spells. There was another Donald spell when I think both Waugh brothers were batting which also somehow didn't result in a wicket.

 

[wpdavid]

Ambrose during England's second innings at Lord's in 2000. England were chasing 188 after dismissing WI for 54, and conditions weren't easy. Ambrose's 22 overs went for 22 runs and he looked like taking wickets in almost all of them. He eventually dismissed Caddick, but he was unlucky not to remove most of the top order.

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

McGrath saving that test against us in 2001.

 

[Son Of Coco]

I once took 0-25 off 18 overs, with four dropped catches, countless plays and misses, at least two LBWs turned down that I thought should have been given, and eight of the runs I conceded coming from edges through slips for four.

So yeah, it's probably Donald, Steyn or me. All on very similar levels.

I want to throw my ring in the hat here - I once bowled a spell in my neighbour's backyard that lasted for about 10 overs where I went for very few runs, was virtually unplayable, and ended up smashing their toilet window with a searing bouncer.

I think play was called off at that point with my mate from next door still at the piss-stained crease.

 

[Binkley]

New Zealand’s first ever win in England (in 1983) involved superb bowling from Richard Hadlee who somehow ended up with innings figures of 0-44 and 0-45.

 

[TheJediBrah]

McGrath saving that test against us in 2001.

hey

 

[Line and Length]

If we are talking about personal wicketless spells, I bowled 9 consecutive maidens while the spinner picked up wickets at the other end. Finished the day with 2-12 off 20 overs.

 

[jayjay]

Wahab Riaz in the 2015 CWC against Watson instantly comes to mind.

Cummins at Old Trafford in 2019 I believe it was, could easily have had 2 or 3 wickets, also comes to mind.