Top 5 spinners with most no-balls in Tests since 2021 ft. Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja’s streak of bowling no-balls in Test cricket continues.
No-balls are usually associated with fast bowlers, whose long run-ups and high speed occasionally result in overstepping; however, spinners are immune to such mistakes, as they often have a short run-up and do not overspeed. In red-ball history, bowlers are expected to maintain control over long spells; hence, repeated no-balls can increase their own workload.
Although a ‘free hit’ is not awarded for the next delivery following a no-ball in Test cricket, it does add one extra run to the batting team’s total.
It gives the opposition a massive advantage, as they can deny a wicket if the dismissal comes off an illegal delivery. For any bowling team looking to put pressure on the opposition, such errors can be very frustrating.
The figures since 2021 have been startling; several spinners have bowled multiple no-balls in succession in Tests. One veteran Indian all-rounder sits well clear of the rest, while the next players on the list hail from different nations who are all part of the World Test Championship points table.
Spinners with most Test no-balls since 2021
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Jomel Warrican – 17 no-balls
West Indies spinner Jomel Warrican completes the top five with 17 no-balls. He shares the fifth spot on this list with Afghanistan spinner Zahir Khan, who has the same tally of 17. Warrican has been an active part of the West Indies Test team in recent times.
Jack Leach – 19 no-balls
England’s left-arm orthodox spinner Jack Leach has delivered 19 no-balls during the period. Even though his tally is considerably lower than the top three, it remains a massive fact that he is not a regular member of the England team. His last played Test match for England was back on their tour to Pakistan in 2024.
Lasith Embuldeniya – 33 no-balls
Sri Lankan spinner Lasith Embuldeniya ranks third on this list with 33 no-balls, narrowing the gap between Leach (in fourth place) and the Pakistani spinner (in second place). Another left-arm spinner on this list is very close to Noman Ali.
Noman Ali – 40 no-balls
Pakistan‘s Noman Ali is in second place on this list. Along with Sajid Khan, Noman has also been a key part of Pakistan’s Test setup. He has 40 no-balls and is underlining the unusually large gap between the top and the second position.
Ravindra Jadeja – 88 no-balls
Veteran left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja leads this list by a big margin; he has bowled 88 no-balls during this five-year tenure.
His latest indiscretions came during India’s 2nd Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2026. He bowled four no-balls during that match. This is a particularly notable unwanted feat considering Jadeja’s status in Indian cricket.
Which bowler has bowled the most no-balls in Test cricket history?
Australia’s Brett Lee has bowled the most no-balls (472) in Test cricket history.
How many no-balls has Ravindra Jadeja bowled in his Test career?
Ravindra Jadeja has bowled over 106 no-balls in his Test career.
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Subhomoy Datta has been a sports writer since 2022. He holds a BSc in Microbiology from Rastraguru Surendranath College, WBSU, and is currently pursuing his master’s at NIT Surathkal. With a growing interest in sports journalism, he enjoys following the game closely and turning sporting moments into stories for fans.