Wasim Akram, Shane Warne and other iconic bowlers who don't feature on Lord's honours board

Ajit Vijaykumar 20:55 24/07/2019
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  • Pakistan great Wasim Akram.

    Ireland seamer Tim Murtagh managed what many great bowlers haven’t – a five-for at Lord’s. Playing his first Test at the iconic venue in London, Murtagh – who has played county cricket for Middlesex at the venue for a decade – decimated England‘s line-up to skittle the hosts out for just 85.

    It was a great moment for Irish cricket as Murtagh put his name on the famous Lord’s honours board – a prized reward for picking up a five-wicket haul or scoring a ton at the venue in Tests or ODIs.

    It’s a recognition that eluded some great names over the years. Here are five such names.

    Wasim Akram

    It’s the biggest regret for the iconic left-arm fast bowler from Pakistan. A total of 414 Test wickets – more than 900 overall – and eight international matches at Lord’s, but Akram does not have a single five-wicket haul at the ‘home of cricket’.

    “The only regret that I have as a bowler is that even though I have 25 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket, not one came at Lord’s,” Akram had said. Interestingly, teen quick Shaheen Afridi picked up a six-for against Bangladesh at the recent World Cup to get his name on the board.

    Imran Khan

    The icon of Pakistan cricket and now the Prime Minister of the country. Imran was not only a leading figure of international cricket, he played regularly in the domestic circuit in England.

    In three Tests at Lord’s the talismanic all-rounder took eight wickets with a best of a two-for in an innings. Even with the bat, his Test best was 12 at Lord’s, denying him a chance to get up on the honours board.

    Curtly Ambrose

    Surely, not Sir Curtly! The West Indies pace legend was a terror on English wickets and but one honour that eluded him was a five-for at St John’s Wood.
    Ambrose picked up 17 wickets from four Tests at Lord’s with 4-30 being his best there. Maybe one reason for Curtly’s inability to pick up five was that he had Malcolm Marshall and Courtney Walsh as bowling partners.

    Shane Warne at Lord's.

    Shane Warne at Lord’s.

    Shane Warne

    The greatest leg-spinner tormented England batsmen for years both home and away. He has four-wicket hauls in both ODIs and Tests at Lord’s but not a five wicket haul.

    While Warne does have 1001 international wickets under his belt, the absence of a five-for at Lord’s will be irksome. For the record, he picked up 19 Test wickets at an average of less than 20 at the venue.

    Anil Kumble

    Sri Lankan ace Muttiah Muralitharan found his name on the Lord’s honour board after the ground decided to include limited overs five-wicket hauls on the honours board as well.

    However, India leg-spinner Anil Kumble remained off the honours list. He played six matches at the iconic venue – three Tests and as many ODIs – but his best there was a three-wicket haul.

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