Shoriful Islam records historic seven-wicket haul against Australia

Shoriful Islam became the first left-arm fast bowler in 140 years to take a seven-wicket haul in a Test innings against Australia, producing Bangladesh’s standout performance in the second Test in Mackay. The 25-year-old pacer from Panchagarh returned figures of 7/48 from 15 overs as Bangladesh bowled Australia out for 210 in their first innings at the Great Barrier Reef Arena. Shoriful also top-scored for Bangladesh with 14 runs in their first innings. Despite his performance, Bangladesh suffered a crushing defeat, with the second Test ending inside two days. Shoriful’s seven-wicket haul put him in a select group of left-arm fast bowlers to have achieved the feat against Australia. The last left-arm pacer to take seven wickets in a Test innings against Australia was England’s Dick Barlow, who finished with 7/44 in the second innings of the Manchester Test played from July 5 to 7, 1886. Barlow had also taken seven wickets against Australia in the Sydney Test in January 1883.

The first left-arm pacer to take seven or more wickets in a Test innings against Australia was England’s Tom Emmett. He took 7/68 from 59 overs in the first innings of the Melbourne Test played from January 2 to 4, 1879. Shoriful is now only the fourth left-arm fast bowler to take a seven-wicket haul in a Test innings against Australia. The best bowling figures by a left-arm bowler against Australia, however, belong to former England spinner Hedley Verity. He took 8/43 in the second innings of the Lord’s Test in 1934, played from June 22 to 25. The overall best bowling figures against Australia in Test cricket remain with England’s Jim Laker, who took all 10 Australian wickets for 53 runs in the second innings of the Manchester Test in July 1956.