In cricket, a five-wicket haul (also known as a "fifer"[2]) refers to a bowler taking five or more wickets in a single innings. This is regarded as a notable achievement,[3] and as of October 2019[update] only 48 bowlers have taken 15 or more five-wicket hauls at the international level.[4] A right-arm off break bowler, Harbhajan Singh has taken 417 wickets in Test, 269 wickets in One Day International (ODI) and 25 wickets in Twenty20 International (T20I) matches for India.[5] He has the second-highest number of five-wicket hauls (28) in international cricket—next to Anil Kumble—among Indian cricketers and the eleventh among overall.[a]
Harbhajan made his Test debut against Australia in 1998. His first five-wicket haul came against the same team during the second Test of the 2000–01 series at Eden Gardens.[6] His six wickets for 73 runs in the second innings of the match raised his tally to thirteen wickets in the match; his performance was instrumental in India winning the match after being forced to follow-on.[7][b] In the third Test of the series, he claimed fifteen wickets for 217 runs, including career-best figures of eight wickets for 84 runs.[6] The majority of his five-wicket hauls in Test cricket—seven out of his twenty-five—have come against Australia.
Harbhajan's first five-wicket haul in ODIs came against England in 2002, four years after he made his debut.[5] He took five wickets for 43 runs in the match which India lost.[9] His best figures of five wickets for 31 runs came against the same team in 2006.[10][11] Although Harbhajan made his first T20I appearance in 2006,[5] he has yet to take a five-wicket haul in the format as of October 2019[update]. His figures of four wickets for 12 runs against England in 2012 remain his best in T20Is.[12]
- ^ Loedi, Tony (17 December 2013). "They can't pick off-spinners in Australia". The Roar. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
- ^ "Swinging it for the Auld Enemy – An interview with Ryan Sidebottom". The Scotsman. Johnston Press. 17 August 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
... I'd rather take fifers (five wickets) for England ...
- ^ Pervez, M. A. (2001). A Dictionary of Cricket. Orient Blackswan. p. 31. ISBN 9788173701849. Archived from the original on 22 January 2014.
- ^ a b "Combined Test, ODI and T20I records: Most five-wicket hauls in a career". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
- ^ a b c "Player Profile: Harbhajan Singh". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 18 December 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
- ^ a b "Harbhajan Singh: Combined Test, ODI and T20I records – Five-wicket hauls". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 22 December 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
- ^ Vasu, Anand (15 March 2001). "Laxman, Harbhajan script sensational Indian victory". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
- ^ "Records / Test matches / Team records / Victory after a follow on". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
- ^ "6th ODI: India v England at Mumbai, Feb 3, 2002". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
- ^ "Statistics / Harbhajan Singh / One-Day Internationals". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 22 December 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
- ^ "England in India ODI Series – 1st ODI". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 29 October 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2011.
- ^ "Records / Twenty20 Internationals / Bowling records / Best figures in an innings". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2014.
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