The event saw a number of brilliant individual performances with the ball, including a 10-wicket haul from New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel.

We take a look at the five best hauls over the 2021-23 World Test Championship period.

Ajaz Patel- 10/119 vs India at Mumbai, 2021

History was created on in December of 2021, as Patel became only the third player to collect a 10-for in a Test innings. He joined an exclusive club of which Jim Laker (10/53 against Australia) and Anil Kumble (10/84 against Pakistan) are the other members. 

After India elected to bat first in the Mumbai Test, Patel was New Zealand’s best bowler by a margin, showing superb control and endurance against a star batting line-up. 

His best run during this dream haul came when he accounted for three India batters in the space of 10 balls. Shubman Gill edged one to Ross Taylor, Cheteshwar Pujara was beaten coming down the track and Virat Kohli fell leg-before to Patel. 

Unfortunately for him, there was little support from other New Zealand bowlers and India ended with a strong first innings total of 325 on a track which had started taking turn. India’s spinners were too good for the Kiwis, as the hosts took a 263-run lead.

Patel was among wickets in the second innings as well, taking 4/106, but by then the game was far away from New Zealand’s reach. India won by a massive 372 runs. 

Sajid Khan- 8/42 v Bangladesh, Mirpur, 2021

Sajid’s off-breaks in Mirpur wreaked havoc on the Bangladesh batting lineup to pull off a miraculous win for Pakistan. His 8/42 is the fourth-best bowling effort by a Pakistan bowler in the history of Test cricket.

The game went through several disruptions, and at times it seemed like the weather would force a draw. However, Sajid had other plans. 

After Pakistan declared their first innings at 300/4 on the fourth day, the off-spinner ran through the Bangladesh batting order, picking six wickets from his 12 overs. Bangladesh’s first innings stood at 76/7 at the end of day’s play.

Sajid kept at it the next day, his eight-for ensuring that Bangladesh were bundled out for 87. Babar Azam enforced the follow-on in search of a result, and his bowlers responded positively.

Sajid was the pick of bowlers yet again, his 4/86 ensured that his side won by an innings and eight runs. 

Nathan Lyon- 8/64 v India, Indore, 2023

After a torrid start at Nagpur (1/126) during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23, Lyon improved with each progressing game to become Australia’s most lethal player in the series. 

During the second Test in Delhi, his first innings effort of 5/67 kept Australia in the game, before a batting collapse handed India a win. At Indore, however, Lyon was at his fierce ad competitive best and ensured that India found no way back into the game. 

He picked up 3/35 in the first innings to bowl India out for a paltry 109. But it was his 8/64 in the second dig, which broke India’s resistance. Among his wickets were Gill, Rohit Sharma, Pujara, and Ravichandran Ashwin. 

India were bowled out for 163, and Australia overcame a relatively easy target of 76 for the loss of just one wicket. 

Matt Henry- 7/23 v South Africa, Christchurch, 2022

Henry’s cumulative match figures of 9/55 handed New Zealand just their fifth Test win over South Africa. The Proteas, coming off a successful home series win over India, would’ve expected their fast bowlers to make the best use of pace-friendly New Zealand conditions.

But Henry’s 7/23 blew South Africa batting away for merely 95 in the first innings. 

Henry inflicted damage by taking a flurry of wickets. In the 19th over, he accounted for Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen. In the 47th over, Henry got rid of Kyle Verreynne, Kagiso Rabada and Glenton Stuurman.

After that, the tourists were merely trying to catch up to the Black Caps.

Henry picked 2/32 in the second innings as New Zealand won by an innings and 276 runs.

Keshav Maharaj- 7/32 v Bangladesh, Durban, 2022

Bangladesh's first Test against South Africa at Durban saw the Tigers remain competitive for long durations of the game. They pulled back the hosts from a commanding 180/3 in the first innings to 298/8.

While South Africa eventually got to a competitive 367, Bangladesh fought back with the bat as well, scoring 298 at the back of a brilliant hundred from Mahmudul Hasan Joy.

Their bowlers remained disciplined in the second innings, and suddenly after bowling out the Proteas for 204, the tourists needed merely 274 runs to win the Test. Having pulled off a miraculous win against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui a couple of months back, they might have held high hopes at Durban as well.

Keshav Maharaj proved to be the difference here. He pretty much entered the action in the final innings, having been wicketless in Bangladesh's first innings.

And he went on to rip through their batting lineup, picking 7/32 in an unchanged spell, as Bangladesh were bowled out for a mere 53. South Africa won by 220 runs.

However, Maharaj wasn't done just yet in the series. He returned with 84 and 9/97 in the next Test, to give his side a 332-run win at Gqeberha.

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