Grabbing a fifer in both the innings of a Test match is as big a feat as there can be any in Test cricket and if you get to do it in a Test series as big as Border Gavaskar trophy, then there is nothing like it.
There have been only seven bowlers so far who have managed to get a five-wicket haul in both the innings of a Test match in Border Gavaskar trophy. Here are the bowlers who have finished with a couple of fifers in the same Test match of Border Gavaskar trophy –
1. Glenn McGrath (2000)
Glenn McGrath did it in the third Test match of India’s tour to Australia in 1999-2000. The game was played in Sydney where the pitch was supposed to help the spinners, but McGrath made a massive impact with the ball in both the innings for Australia.
India batted first and was bundled out for just 150 with McGrath registering the figures of 5 for 48 in the first innings. Australia, in response, piled on more than 550 runs on the board and India couldn’t save the innings defeat as another five-wicket haul by McGrath in the second innings ensured Australia completed a 3-0 whitewash.
2. Harbhajan Singh (2001 and 2004)
Harbhajan Singh is the only bowler who has registered five-wicket hauls in both the innings of a Test match three times in Border Gavaskar trophy. He did it twice in the historical series of 2001 where India made a remarkable comeback after being 1-0 down in the series and won the last two matches to win the series 2-1.
Harbhajan was the pioneer of India’s triumph in that series as he took a total of 28 wickets in the two test matches India won with five-wicket hauls in all 4 innings. Harbhajan then achieved this feat for the third time when the Kangaroos toured India in 2004. However, India lost that series of 2004.
3. Anil Kumble (2004)
Anil Kumble did it in the second Test match of Australia’s tour to India in 2004. It was played in Chennai and the pitch was a rank turner, ideally suited for Kumble’s style of bowling.
India managed to restrict Australia to a below-par total in the first innings and took a significant lead as well, but a spirited comeback by the Aussie batsmen in the second innings pushed the game towards a draw despite the mammoth efforts of Kumble who got 13 wickets in the game.
4. Ravichandran Ashwin (2013)
It was the first game of the Border Gavaskar trophy of 2013 and the venue was Chennai again which dished out a slow and low surface allowing the spin bowlers to thrive on it.
Ravichandran Ashwin got 7 wickets in the first innings and 5 in the second making sure India cruised to a comfortable victory. It was the same game where the Indian captain MS Dhoni had scored his first-ever double hundred as well. India eventually whitewashed Australia in that series by 4-0.
5. Nathan Lyon (2014)
It was the Adelaide Test match on India’s tour to Australia in 2014 where Virat Kohli captained India for the first time ever and went very close to guiding India to an inspiring victory.
But, it was Nathan Lyon’s crafty spin bowling in both the innings which ensured India didn’t go 1-0 up in the series. Lyon, who got a fifer in the first innings, put on an even better performance in the second innings and won the game for Australia with a 7-wicket haul.
6. Steve O’Keefe (2017)
When Australia toured India for a Test series in 2017, India dished out a rank turner in Pune as they always do, but in that particular series, it backfired as Steve O’Keefe bowled sensationally well in both the innings and exploited the pitch to the fullest.
What’s interesting was that O’Keefe was not even Australia’s first-choice spinner in that game, but it was him who made the maximum impact with 6 wickets in each innings.
