Pakistan's Surprising Spin Pair Make History

Pakistan's Noman Ali and Sajid Khan made headlines by taking a remarkable 39 wickets in a two-Test sequence this month, setting a new record for the most wickets taken by a pair in such a short series. This surpassed the previous milestone set in 1956, when England’s Jim Laker and Tony Lock took 38 wickets against Australia. Laker famously took 19 wickets in a single match at Old Trafford, while Lock claimed the remaining one. But for Pakistan’s unlikely duo, it was their strategic adaptability that proved crucial in achieving this feat.

CricViz data illustrates how both Noman and Sajid adjusted their approaches to meet the demands of each match. Noman slowed his delivery speed compared to his previous games, while Sajid increased his pace and introduced a higher percentage of faster balls than usual. Their versatility in tweaking their bowling styles made them unpredictable and effective, allowing them to exploit England’s weaknesses.

The significance of their accomplishment becomes even clearer when looking at bowlers who have taken six or more wickets in consecutive innings against England since 1985. Before Noman and Sajid, the last to do this was Mehedi Hasan Miraz of Bangladesh. His 19 wickets in two Tests against England in 2016 marked a stunning debut. While Mehedi has since established a solid career, the list of bowlers to achieve this milestone includes legends such as Rangana Herath, Muttiah Muralitharan, Anil Kumble, and Shane Warne, along with pace icons like Malcolm Marshall and Imran Khan. Now, Noman and Sajid join this elite company, a testament to their skill and resilience.

Breaking New Ground

Before his stunning seven-wicket haul, Sajid had a modest Test record, with only one standout match in his previous eight appearances. Similarly, Noman had struggled to leave a mark, with just 21 wickets in nine Tests at an average of 53.6 before this series. However, they emerged as critical players, demonstrating that sometimes the most unassuming bowlers can deliver under unexpected circumstances.

A Month of Surprises

The month of October 2024 has been extraordinary for Test cricket, with unexpected victories and unexpected performances. Notably, England’s loss to Pakistan was part of a chain reaction: Pakistan had previously lost to Bangladesh, who then lost to India, who fell to New Zealand, who themselves had recently been defeated by Sri Lanka, only to come back and beat England. The unpredictability and constant upsets have added a layer of excitement to the Test format.

This October has also been unique for featuring four different bowlers—Noman, Sajid, Washington Sundar, and Mitchell Santner—each taking seven or more wickets in an innings. Washington Sundar, playing for India, achieved this after three-and-a-half years away from Test cricket, while New Zealand’s Santner took seven and six wickets, respectively, in what became one of his best performances in a Test series. Notably, on October 1, none of these players might have anticipated even being selected for a Test match.

In a sport that often favors established stars, the unexpected dominance of players like Noman, Sajid, Sundar, and Santner reminds fans of the thrill and uncertainty that cricket always holds.