The five bowlers to have picked up five-wickets hauls in all three formats as India's Bhuvneshwar Kumar becomes the latest

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Bhuvneshwar joined an exclusive club with his performance on Sunday.

    India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar picked up his career best figures in T20I cricket with a five-wicket haul against South Africa in a 28-run win at the Wanderers on Sunday.

    Bhuvneshwar’s 5-24 was the first ever five-for by any Indian pacer in the format. It also means that the 28-year-old now has a five-wicket haul in all three international formats.

    Only five other bowlers in history have achieved this feat before the India man. We take a look at who they are.

    AJANTHA MENDIS (SRI LANKA)

    The 32-year-old spinner might be a forgotten man now but there was a time when he was bamboozling batsmen left, right and center when he burst onto the international stage as a youngster.

    The mystery finger-spinner has nine five-wicket hauls in all formats. Four of them have come in Tests, three in ODIs and two in T20Is.

    Mendis’ meteoric rise however, was mirrored by an equally quick downfall as batsmen around the world came to terms with his variations.

    Mendis' rise in international cricket was meteoric.

    Mendis’ rise in international cricket was meteoric.

    TIM SOUTHEE (NEW ZEALAND)

    The Blackcaps pacer has been around for some time now in international cricket. A bowler who relies very much on conventional swing, Southee has done well to pick up a five-wicket haul six times in Test cricket and two times in ODIs.

    His sole five-for in the 20-over format in 2010 against Pakistan at Auckland where he finished with figures of 5-18.

    Southee is the only New Zealand bowler to feature on the list.

    The Kiwi pacer achieved the feat in 2010.

    The Kiwi pacer achieved the feat in 2010.

    UMAR GUL (PAKISTAN)

    Once a crucial component of the Pakistan pace attack but now sidelined to the fringes, Gul was picking up five-wicket hauls for fun during his peak.

    He has done it four times in Test crickets and twice each in ODIs and T20Is. The 33-year-old was a brilliant exponent of reverse swing and famous for his stinging yorkers at the death. It is no wonder therefore, that he has been so successful in limited-overs cricket.

    The Pakistan pacer could bowl a mean yorker.

    The Pakistan pacer could bowl a mean yorker.

    LASITH MALINGA (SRI LANKA)

    The second Sri Lanka bowler to feature on the list, Malinga has always been a phenomenal performer in limited-overs cricket with his slingy unorthodox action, pin-point yorkers and cleverly disguised slower-balls.

    The 34-year-old has picked up seven five-wicket hauls in ODI cricket, three in Tests and once in T20Is. His sole five-for in T20s came in the ICC World Twenty20 clash against England at Pallekele where he returned with figures of 5-31.

    The Sri Lanka veteran was always tailor-made for limited-overs cricket.

    The Sri Lanka veteran was always tailor-made for limited-overs cricket.

    IMRAN TAHIR (SOUTH AFRICA)

    The 38-year-old Proteas veteran is the oldest name to feature on the list. The Pakistan-born leg-spinner has thrived in limited-overs cricket in recent years, especially T20s, with his subtle variations.

    Tahir has picked up two five-wicket hauls each in Tests and ODIs. His sole five-for in the 20-over format came in New Zealand last year where he finished with figures of 5-24 in South Africa’s 78-run win at Auckland.

    Tahir has been a late bloomer in limited-overs cricket.

    Tahir has been a late bloomer in limited-overs cricket.

    Recommended