Test debuts are special. But it was nothing special for a few bowlers, who bowled incriminating spells without taking a wicket. Here are the most expensive bowling figures without a wicket on Test debut.
Most expensive Wicketless Spell on Test debut
| Player | Bowling figures | Overs bowled | Opposition | Ground | Start date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adil Rashid (NL) | 0/163 | 34.0 | Pakistan | Abu Dhabi | October 13, 2015 |
| Zafar Gohar (PAK) | 0/159 | 32.0 | New Zealand | Christchurch | January 3, 2021 |
| Mitchell Swepson (AUS) | 0/156 | 53.4 | Pakistan | Karachi | March 12, 2022 |
| Bryce McGain (AUS) | 0/149 | 18.0 | South Africa | Cape Town | March 19, 2009 |
| Pankaj Singh (IND) | 0/146 | 37.0 | England | Southampton | July 27, 2014 |
| John Warr (ENG)* | 0/142 | 36.0 | Australia | Sydney | January 5, 1951 |
| Tawanda Muparwa (ZIM) | 0/136 | 34.0 | Sri Lanka | Bulawayo | May 14, 2004 |
| Bapu Nadkarni (IND) | 0/132 | 54.0 | New Zealand | Delhi | December 16, 1955 |
| Sohail Khan (PAK) | 0/131 | 21.0 | Sri Lanka | Karachi | February 21, 2009 |
| Suleiman Benn (WI) | 0/120 | 40.0 | Sri Lanka | Providence | March 22, 2008 |
Key insights into the most expensive wicketless spells in the history of test cricket
Records for most runs conceded in a Wicketless Test Innings
Pakistan’s Khan Mohammad holds the record for the most expensive wicketless figures in any Test innings, begrudgingly 259 runs for no one inside 54 overtime hours against West Indies in the second innings of the 1958 Kingston Test.
The English Adil Rashid holds the record for the most expensive wicketless figures in a debut Test innings, giving away 163 runs for no one inside 34 overtime hours against Pakistan in the first innings of the 2015 Abu Dhabi Test.
The Indian Pankaj Singh bowled the costliest wicketless spell in a debut Test innings among pacers, and conceded 146 runs for zero wickets against England in the first innings of the 2014 Southampton Test.
Most expensive match and debut matches without a wicket
Pankaj Singh done with the 2014 Southampton Test with numbers of none 179which is the most expensive wicketless match by a bowler in their debut Test.
Longest wicketless spells in terms of overs bowled
The Indian Bapu Nadkarni bowled the most overs without a wicket in his debut Test innings, sending down 54 wicketless overs against New Zealand in the first innings of the 1955 Delhi Test.
Australia Mitchell Swepson came close to this record after it was delivered 53.4 surpluses without a wicket against Pakistan in the fourth innings of Karachi Test 2022.
Worst Economy Fares in Wicketless Test Debuts
Pakistan’s Zahid Mahmood took the most expensive bowling figures in his debut Test innings among the bowlers with at least one wicket, with figures of 4 for 235 against England in the first innings of the 2022 Rawalpindi Test.
Shahadat Hossain from Bangladesh recorded the worst economic figure in a wicketless spell in his debut Test innings (minimum 60 balls bowled), which yields figures of none 101 at an economic rate of 8.41 in 12 overtime hours against England in the second innings of the 2005 Lord’s Test.
Australian Bryce McGain is the only other bowler with a higher economic rate eight in a wicketless debut Test spell, conceded 149 runs in an economy of 8.27 in 18 hours of overtime against South Africa in the 2009 Cape Town Test. This was the only time he bowled in his Test career.
List: Bowlers who have picked 0 wickets in their Test career (min. 40 overs)
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