Cricket is often termed as a batter’s game. Batters often aim to reach a half-century (50 runs), century (100 runs), or beyond to improve their career statistics. These milestones often represent the skill-level of the batter. A bowler too chases personal glory. This is highlighted by the number of 5-wicket hauls or 10-wicket hauls that the bowler has taken in their career. This article explains the former.
When a team gets bowled-out, it means that all ten of the eleven batters are dismissed by the bowlers. The innings too is said to be concluded. If a single bowler is responsible for taking the wickets of five to nine of these batters, then that bowler has achieved a five-wicket (5w) haul. It is a rare feat in limited overs cricket (One Day Internationals and T20s). However, it is more commonly seen in Test Cricket.
The reason for the latter can be attributed to the fact that each team bats twice in test cricket. A bowler who has taken a cumulative of five wickets across both innings is not considered to have taken a five-wicket haul. For example, if a bowler has taken three wickets in the first innings and two wickets in the second innings, then it does not count as a five-wicket hall. A bowler has to pick 5-9 wickets in a single innings to achieve the five-wicket haul.
Bowlers have a greater chance of taking a 5w haul in test cricket. This is chiefly because there is no limit on the number of overs that the bowler can ball or the innings can last. In contrast, bowlers can bowl only 4 and 10 overs in T20s and One Day Internationals respectively. In addition, it is notable to mention that if a bowler has afflicted a run out, then that dismissal does not count as his personal wicket.
Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan’s ended his career as the leading wicket-taker in the world in test cricket (800 wickets). He also holds the record for taking the most five-wicket hauls (67). In ODIs, Pakistan’s Waqar Younis holds the record of taking 13 five-wicket hauls. As of November 2023, a total of seven bowlers have twice taken a five-wicket haul in T20s.
