In cricket, a five-wicket haul (also known as a "five-for" or "fifer") refers to a bowler taking five or more wickets in a single innings. This is regarded as a significant achievement. As of July 2024, 173 cricketers have taken a five-wicket haul on their debut in a Test match. Of these, twelve cricketers have taken two five-wicket hauls on their Test debut, including five from England, two each from Australia and Sri Lanka, and one each from India, South Africa, and the West Indies.
English left-arm medium-paced bowler Frederick Martin was the first player to do so; he took 6 wickets for 50 and 6 wickets for 52 on his debut, against Australia in the second Test of the 1890 Ashes series. The feat was repeated three years later by Tom Richardson who took 5 for 49 and 5 for 107 against Australia in the third Test of the 1893 Ashes series. Clarrie Grimmett became the first Australian to take two five-wicket hauls on his Test debut, when he took 5 for 45 and 6 for 37 in the fifth Test of the 1924–25 Ashes series at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Charles Marriott was the third England player to take a pair of fifers on his Test debut, against the West Indies on their 1933 tour of England. Despite his bowling performance, Marriott never played Test cricket again.
Ken Farnes took two five-wicket hauls on his debut against Australia in the first Test of the 1934 Ashes series but still ended on the losing side. In 1948, West Indian right-arm fast bowler Hines Johnson was the first cricketer outside an Ashes tournament to take two fifers on his Test debut when he took 5 for 41 and 5 for 55 against England at Sabina Park during England's 1947–48 tour. South African medium-fast bowler Sydney Burke became the seventh player to take a pair of five-wicket hauls on Test debut, with a total of eleven wickets in the third Test of New Zealand tour of 1961–62.
Narendra Hirwani recorded the best match-figures by any bowler on Test debut. He took 8 for 61 and 8 for 75 against West Indies in 1987–88 Test series. As of July 2024, England's fast bowler Gus Atkinson is the most recent cricketer to take two five-wicket hauls on debut. He took 7/45 and 5/61 against West Indies during the first Test of the 2024 series between the teams.
Key
Symbol Meaning Date Date the match was held, or starting date of the match for Test matches Overs Number of overs bowled in that innings Runs Runs conceded Wkts Number of wickets taken Econ Bowling economy rate (average runs conceded per over bowled) Batsmen The batsmen whose wickets were taken in the five-wicket haul Result The result for the bowler's team in that match Bowler selected as "Man of the match" Drawn The match was drawn Note: For the bowling figures, the top line is the first innings bowling figures, and the bottom line is the second innings bowling figures.
List of cricketers who have taken two five-wicket hauls on Test debut
No. Bowler Date Ground Against Overs Runs Wkts EconBatsmen Result 1 The Oval, London, United Kingdom Jack Lyons Jack Barrett Billy Murdoch Jack Blackham Harry Trott Percie Charlton Won Jack Barrett Jack Lyons Kenneth Burn Charles Turner Harry Trott Hugh Trumble 2 Old Trafford, Manchester, United Kingdom George Giffen Harry Trott William Bruce Charles Turner Hugh TrumbleDrawn George Giffen Bob McLeod William Bruce Syd Gregory Alick Bannerman 3 Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, Australia Frank Woolley J. W. Hearne William Whysall Roy Kilner Arthur GilliganWon Jack Hobbs Andy Sandham Patsy Hendren J. W. Hearne William Whysall Bert Strudwick 4 The Oval, London, United Kingdom George Headley Cyril Merry Jackie Grant Vincent Valentine Herman Griffith Won Clifford Roach Ben Sealey Oscar Da Costa Vincent Valentine Ellis Achong Herman Griffith 5 Trent Bridge, Nottingham, United Kingdom Bill Ponsford Bill Woodfull Stan McCabe Arthur Chipperfield Bill O'Reilly Lost Bill Woodfull Don Bradman Stan McCabe Len Darling Arthur Chipperfield6 Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica Jack Robertson Len Hutton Ken Cranston Jim Laker Maurice Tremlett Won Jack Robertson Joe Hardstaff, Jr. Gubby Allen Godfrey Evans Maurice Tremlett 7 Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa John Sparling Noel McGregor Murray Chapple Artie Dick Dick Motz Gary BartlettLost Graham Dowling John Sparling John Richard Reid Zin Harris Murray Chapple8 Lord's, London, United Kingdom Geoffrey Boycott Basil D'Oliveira Mike Smith Alan Knott Tony Greig Ray Illingworth John Snow Norman GiffordWon John Edrich Basil D'Oliveira Tony Greig Alan Knott Ray Illingworth John Snow Mike Smith John Price9 M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Madras, India Richie Richardson Gus Logie Carl Hooper Viv Richards Clyde Butts Jeff Dujon Winston Davis Courtney WalshWon Phil Simmons Desmond Haynes Viv Richards Carl Hooper Jeff Dujon Gus Logie Clyde Butts Winston Davis10 3 May 2021Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy, Sri Lanka329262.88 Tamim Iqbal Saif Hassan Mushfiqur Rahim Liton Das Mehidy Hasan Taskin Ahmed Won328652.69 Saif Hassan Najmul Hossain Liton Das Mehidy Hasan Abu Jayed 11 11 July 2022Galle International Stadium, Galle, Sri Lanka3611863.27Marnus Labuschagne Travis Head Cameron Green Alex Carey Mitchell Starc Nathan LyonWon165963.68Usman Khawaja Marnus Labuschagne Steven Smith Cameron Green Mitchell Starc Mitchell Swepson12 10 July 2024Lord's, London, England124573.75Kraigg Brathwaite Kirk McKenzie Alick Athanaze Jason Holder Joshua Da Silva Alzarri Joseph Shamar JosephWon146154.35Kavem Hodge Jason Holder Alzarri Joseph Shamar Joseph Jayden Seales Source: Correct as of 11 July 2022
Notes
References
External links Five-wicket hauls at Cricinfo