Sydney: The fourth day of the Sydney Test between India and Australia witnessed a rare spectacle. Australia scored 251 runs in 40 overs (240 balls) hammering the Indian bowlers all over the park. Umesh Yadav received multiple injuries among the lot. Apart from conceding 45 runs in three overs, economy rate reading 15 per over, he also remained wicketless. This is the most expensive figure recorded by a bowler in the history of Test cricket.
Along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammad Shami, the three gave away 124 in 17 overs (102 balls) making it look like a T20 match. Suresh Raina – not a regular bowler – threw in a surprise being the least expensive among the bunch (4-0-18-0). Barring him, all bowlers went over five.
The Aussie batters were ruthless but the Indian bowlers – at their worst. Ravichandran Ashwin could be an exception for he also picked up four wickets.
Yadav created a new record like Ajit Agarkar’s series of ducks in the 1999-00 tour bringing in embarassment for the visitors. He broke Michael Kasprowicz’s record against New Zealand in Bellerive (1997-98) where the Aussie’s figures read 3-0-33-0.
Other expensive bowlers in Test history (in order)
Graeme Smith 3-0-33-0 (against Pakistan in Karachi, 2007-08)
Suresh Raina 7-0-77-0 (against South Africa in Centurion, 2010-11)
Derek Sealy 3-0-32-0 (against Australia in Brisbane, 1930-31)
Azhar Mahmood 3-0-32-0 (against West Indies in Karachi, 1997-98)
