Last Updated on 4 years by Charbel Coorey

Top 5 Best Bowling Spells in Tests in 2020 | A look back at the best 5 bowling spells in 2020 | Rating the best bowling performances of 2020

In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, cricket proved to be a major source of happiness for all the cricket lovers across the world. We enjoyed some really exciting encounters belonging to the most authentic format of the game; i.e. test cricket in 2020.

In the last article, I picked my top five knocks in Tests in 2020. Similarly, there were some excellent bowling spells by the bowlers from several teams which changed the course of the matches. In this article, I am going to choose my top five spells among them. Here we go.

5. Dom Bess 31-12-51-5 vs South Africa, Port Elizabeth

We seldom witness a visiting spinner being impactful on South African soil, don’t we? Dom Bess announced his arrival in international cricket by bowling this impressive spell and taking a 5-fer in just his fourth Test.

His first wicket was Pieter Malan who was Caught and bowled by Bess himself. The next three wickets he took followed the traditional pattern of dismissal against spin bowling; i.e. caught at short leg or silly point. He dismissed Zubayr Hamza and Faf Du plessis in a similar manner as both were caught at the short leg. Dean Elgar played for the turn against a straight delivery, the ball took the inside edge of his bat and was caught at the silly point. Rassie Van der Dussen was the fifth victim of Bess, who was played on while attempting to play a cut shot off a delivery that was not pitched on the shorter side.

Although Bess didn’t get any sharp turn from the wicket, his lengths were superb that day, which reaped him rewards. His spell played an important role in England’s victory.

4. Kyle Jamieson, 13-4-34-5 vs West Indies, Wellington

Kyle Jamieson is probably the most exciting young player right now in world cricket. He has already four 5-fers in just six Test matches.

He showed his potentials once again against the West Indies in the second test at Wellington. He dismissed John Campbell in his very first over with a delivery that lured him to play the off drive and took the outside edge before being grabbed by Tom Latham in the slips. Then he bowled Roston Chase with an outstanding inswinging Yorker, to which the batsman had no clue. His third victim was Shamarh Brooks, who misjudged the movement off the pitch completely and left a delivery that disturbed his off stump. Then he used the extra bounce to perfection and got Jason Holder caught after mistiming a pull shot. He completed his fifer by dismissing Alzarri Joseph, who was caught behind off a delivery pitched on the full length.

This spell consisted of both classical and aggressive fast bowling and therefore it makes to this list.

3. James Anderson 23-3-56-5 vs Pakistan, Southampton

Your character as a sportsperson is judged from the way you make a comeback. Although the legendary fast bowler didn’t have a good start to the English summer in 2020, Anderson ensured it would end in the most convincing manner with this fifer.

His first wicket was Shan Masood, whom he trapped in front of the stumps with a lovely incoming delivery. His second scalp was Abid Ali, who edged a delivery pitched on the fourth stump line straight to the slips. Then, Anderson found Babar Azam plumb in front with a booming nip backer which kept a bit low. The next day, he picked Asad Shafiq as his fourth wicket. The ball was on the fifth stump channel; Shafiq went for a poke and perished. His fifth and final wicket was Naseem Shah, who edged a back of the length delivery to the slips.

He was at his very best throughout this spell and troubled all the Pakistani batsmen with his skill as well as nagging accuracy. Moreover, the way he silenced his critics was remarkable.

2. Jason Holder 20-6-42-6 vs England, Southampton

I think there are very few bowlers in the world right now who have a great control over the Dukes ball and Jason Holder is definitely one of them. This spell was an exhibition of swing bowling of the highest level with the Dukes as well as the highlight of the 2^nd day of the first test between the West Indies and England.

Holder took his first wicket in the form of Zak Crawley, who was trapped in front of the stumps by a lovely inswinger. Then Ollie Pope was caught behind by a delivery of Holder that was angled in and held its line after pitching to take the outside edge of the bat. He introduced himself into the attack once again, when there was building a good partnership between Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler and dismissed Stokes with a ripper. The ball was angled in, pitched around the off stump and held its line to snick past the outside edge of Stokes. A similar delivery on the 5^th stump line got rid of Buttler. Archer was found plumb in front of the stumps by Holder. His sixth and final victim was Mark Wood, who edged the ball to the slips while playing a drive.

This magnificent spell restricted England to mere 204 runs in the first innings and thus played a huge part in the historic victory of the West Indies.    

1. Josh Hazlewood 5-3-8-5 vs India, Adelaide

The only word which can describe this spell with utmost perfection is “incredible”. Hazlewood showcased his immense calibre for the umpteenth time in the first session of the 3^rd day of the Pink ball test in Adelaide.

He first dismissed Mayank Agarwal off a delivery that bounced from an awkward length after being pitched around the 4^th stump line. He set up Ajinkya Rahane nicely and invited him to play a drive on the up and got him caught behind four balls later in the same over. His third victim was Wriddhiman Saha, who flicked the ball straight to the fielder placed at mid wicket. In the very next ball, he dismissed Ravi Ashwin, who was caught behind after poking a delivery pitched on the 5^th stump line. Then he picked the wicket of Hanuma Vihari by a peach of a delivery that was pitched on the middle stump line and moved away ever so slightly to take the outside edge of the batsman.

This spell just dismantled the Indian batting line up and changed the course of the match in the favour of Australia in no time. This was surely the best bowling spell I watched in 2020.

This is my list of top 5 best bowling spells in 2020. Do you agree? Have your say!

Written by Debashish Sarangi. Follow Debashish on Twitter today.