Instances when only two bowlers combined to take 20 wickets in a test cricket match

Test cricket has seen many legendary bowling duos who have blown away the opposition altogether.

Test cricket is regarded as the toughest format of cricket. In it, both batters and bowlers need to grind in order to earn their runs and wickets and win the match.

Every country has had a set of pairs of bowlers who have defined different generations. They have hunted in tandem and sometimes even took all 20 wickets of the opposition.

In 147 years of history of test cricket, there have been only seven matches where two bowlers of the same side have combined to wrap up the opposition in both innings.

On that note, let’s take a look at the instances when two bowlers combined to take 20 wickets of the opposition in a test cricket match.

List of all instances when two bowlers combined to take all 20 wickets in a test cricket match:

1. Hugh Trumble (AUS) and Monty Noble (AUS) vs England, Melbourne, 1902

Australian bowlers Hugh Trumble and Monty Noble became the first pair in the history of test cricket to pick all 20 wickets in a test match. They achieved this historic feat during the Melbourne test against England in 1902.

Australia made 112 in the first innings. In reply, England were bundled out for just 61 runs after Trumble picked three wickets and Noble scalped seven wickets.

Australia notched up 353 in their second innings and set a huge target of 405 for England. While defending, Noble picked up six wickets and Trumble bagged four wickets as England were all out for 175 runs.

Australia won the match by 229 runs.

2. George Hirst (ENG) and Colin Blythe (ENG) vs Australia, Edgbaston, 1909

England bowlers George Hirst and Colin Blythe became the second pair to pick all 20 wickets of the opposition in a test match. This performance by the pair came in the first test of the 1909 Ashes at Edgbaston.

Australia crumbled to 74 runs as George Hirst (4/28) and Colin Blythe (6/44) ran through them. England were dismissed for 151 in their first innings and then Australia were all out for 151 after Hirst and Blythe picked five wickets apiece. The hosts won the match by 10 wickets.

3. Bert Vogler (SA) and Aubrey Faulkner (SA) vs England, Johannesburg, 1910

During a test match against England in Johannesburg in 1910, South Africa’s Bert Vogler and Aubrey Faulkner combined to scalp all 20 wickets for their side.

South Africa scored 208 runs in the first innings and in reply, England scored 310. South Africa’s Vogler and Faulkner bagging five wickets each.

In the hosts’ second innings, they made 345 and set a competitive target of 244 for England. While defending, Vogler snapped seven wickets and Faulkner took three scalps to guide their team to a win by 19 runs.

4. Jim Laker (ENG) and Tony Lock (ENG) vs Australia, Old Trafford, 1956

The England vs Australia test match in Old Trafford saw what is hailed as the greatest bowling performance in the history of the test cricket.

England’s Jim Laker scalped 19 wickets in the match, which included the first ten-wicket innings haul. The one other wicket was taken by left-arm spinner Tony Lock. Laker’s legendary performance with the ball helped England defeat Australia by an innings and 170 runs.

5. Fazal Mahmood (PAK) and Khan Mohammad (PAK) vs Australia, Karachi, 1956

When Australia toured Pakistan in 1956, Fazal Mahmood and Khan Mohammad picked all 20 wickets in the Karachi test.

Batting first, Australia were blown away for 80 runs as Fazal bagged six wickets and Khan took four wickets.

In reply, Pakistan made 199 runs. The visitors were then bowled out for 187 in their second innings, courtesy of Fazal’s seven-for and Khan’s three scalps, and managed to set a low target of 69 runs for the hosts.

Pakistan won the match by nine wickets.

6. Dennis Lillee (AUS) and Bob Massie (AUS) vs England, Lord’s, 1972

The Australia vs England test at the Lord’s in 1972 will be remembered for one of the best bowling performances by an Australian pacer. Speedster Bob Massie picked up 16 wickets in the match.

Batting first, England made 272 runs as Massie snapped eight wickets and Dennis Lillee picked up two wickets.

In reply, Australia scored 308 runs. In England’s second innings, they were bundled out for 116 runs after Massie’s another eight-wicket haul and Lillee’s two wickets. While chasing 81, Australia won the match by eight wickets.

7. Sajid Khan (PAK) and Noman Ali (PAK) vs England, Multan, 2024

Pakistan spin-bowling duo of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali is the latest bowling pair to achieve this historic feat. They did it during Pakistan’s second test match against England at the Multan Cricket Stadium in October 2024.

Batting first, Pakistan scored 366 after Kamran Ghulam scored a terrific century. In reply, England made 291 with Sajid taking seven wickets and Noman scalping three. In the second innings, the hosts were all out for 221 and set a target of 291 for England.

While chasing, England surrendered against the spin duo of Noman Ali and Sajid Khan. This time around, Noman picked eight wickets and Sajid scalped two to help their side win the game by 152 runs.

(All stats and numbers updated till 18th October, 2024)

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