Mitchell Johnson
7 for 68 v South
Africa
first Test, Centurion
South Africa usually start their Test series in Centurion because
that's where they believe they can gain an early advantage with the pace,
bounce and carry. But this time it worked against them. They conceded 397 after
putting Australia in and then were mere spectators as Johnson ripped through
them. He started with a quick short ball that captain Graeme Smith could not
evade, and then worked his way down the order. Among his wickets were the other
opener, Alviro Petersen, and the two big guns - Faf du Plessis and AB de
Villiers. Johnson reached speeds in excess of 150kph and dismantled South
Africa with brute force, leaving mental scars that contributed to them losing
the series.
Ryan Harris
4 for 32 v South
Africa
third Test, Cape Town
Australia set South Africa 511 to win the match, which sounds a
tall order, but this was the same South Africa who had saved a Test in Adelaide
by batting out the better part of two days. Shades of that stubbornness were
visible when AB de Villiers spent nearly five and a half hours facing 228 balls
for 43 runs. When Harris found the seam movement to finally defeat de Villiers,
he was on his way to getting through South Africa. That he did it in his 15th
over, when he was barely expected to walk, let alone bowl, speaks volumes for
his determination. Harris bowled 24.3 overs in the end, and nipped out the tail
to give Australia a series win and subject South Africa to their first series
defeat in five years.
Morne Morkel
3 for 63 v
Australia
second Test, Port Elizabeth
Often the most potent but least rewarded member of the South
African attack, Morkel was at his menacing best in this game. South Africa were
still smarting after going down in the series opener and but posted a healthy
423 at St George's Park and needed to show some intent with ball in hand.
Morkel did it by ramping up the pace, finding the edge and bothering the
batsmen, but he had nothing to show for it until he bowled the nightwatchman,
Nathan Lyon, with a furiously fast short delivery. He also removed Steven Smith
and Ryan Harris to give South Africa a 177-run first-innings lead, which
ultimately helped them square the series. More than wickets, it was the fear
Morkel created in the opposition that made this performance special.
Dhammika Prasad
5 for 50 v
England
second Test, Headingley
The least heralded of a Sri Lanka pace attack with a growing
reputation, Prasad was returning after 18 months out of the Test side. He
managed one wicket in the first innings and then completed a batting pair with
a golden duck that visibly irked his captain, as Sri Lanka fought to set
England a challenging fourth-innings target. But everything came up Prasad on
the fourth evening as the 31-year-old rampaged through England's top order,
taking the first four wickets in a display of pace and hostility. With each
dismissal, his eye-popping celebration grew more energised and Sri Lanka's grip
on the game grew firm. On the final day, Prasad completed his maiden
five-wicket haul in Tests and Sri Lanka (eventually) pulled off a famous win.
Rangana Herath
9 for 127 v
Pakistan
second Test, Colombo
An outstanding solo effort when the rest of the Sri Lanka attack
appeared flat. Herath took charge and exploited the technical weaknesses of
Pakistan's batsmen. Dilruwan Perera claimed the third wicket of the innings,
but the rest were all Herath's, through subtle changes of pace and flight. It
was another example of a fine performance from a bowler who has made every
ounce of his talent count, and probably more than many expected.
Ishant Sharma
7 for 74 v
England
second Test, Lord's
So often a figure of ridicule, Ishant produced a career-best
display to deliver a famous Lord's victory and a brief series lead. He had two
wickets by the close of the fourth day - the experienced duo of Alastair Cook
and Ian Bell - but it was as the clock ticked up to lunch on the final
afternoon that he played the vital hand. Joe Root and Moeen Ali had given
England hope, surviving through a tense last morning, until, with the final
ball of the session, Ishant produced a perfectly directed short ball that Moeen
could only to fend to short leg. After the break, England came out like happy
hookers and Ishant lapped up the gifts.
James Anderson
5 for 53 v India
third Test, Southampton
Going to Southampton, England were 1-0 down, and the leader of
their attack had a disciplinary hearing hanging over him. Two strokes of luck
allowed England to build a strong position: Alastair Cook won the toss and was
then dropped by Ravindra Jadeja. Then Anderson got to work, proving the pitch
was not as flat as India's bowlers had made it look. Bending the ball both ways
and deploying a judicious bouncer, he set the highest standard to help chip
India out for 330, his efforts spread over three days (he took the first and
last wickets to fall). The sledging was absent but Anderson's ability spoke
loudly to inspire England's series win from behind.
Dale Steyn
5 for 54 v Sri
Lanka
first Test, Galle
His seven-for in Nagpur in 2010 had proved he could get something
out of surfaces seamers are not supposed to profit on, and Steyn did it again
in Galle. He stuck to his plan of trying to bounce subcontinental batsmen out
and succeeded in doing so on their turf, where his well-directed short balls
questioned the technique of some of the younger Sri Lankan batsmen. On an
abrasive surface there was also a fair amount of reverse swing, which he used
late in the innings to take three wickets in as many overs and ensure South
Africa had a match-winning lead.
Stuart Broad
6 for 25 v India
fourth Test, Old Trafford
On an overcast day, on a lively pitch, Broad ensured England did
not lose the resurgence that had begun the match before, in Southampton. Alongside
his destroyer-in-arms, James Anderson, who bowled equally well if not better,
Broad sliced through India. Gautam Gambhir and Cheteshwar Pujara were taken in
the cordon, and then Broad returned to mop up the lower order just when MS
Dhoni and R Ashwin began to threaten to take India to a competitive total.
Junaid Khan
5 for 87 v Sri
Lanka
second Test, Colombo
A classy performance, highlighted by reverse swing, in which
Junaid exploited a dry surface. Kaushal Silva, his first wicket, was done in by
the ploy of the bouncer followed by the full ball. Then, later on the first
day, Junaid got the ball to reverse and take the edge of Lahiru Thirmanne's bat
to the keeper. When the second new ball was taken, Junaid claimed a trio of
lbws to remove the lower middle order and uphold his fine record against Sri
Lanka.
Taijul Islam
8 for 39 v
Zimbabwe
first Test, Mirpur
Playing in only his third Test, 22-year-old Taijul ran through
Zimbabwe with the best figures ever recorded by a Bangladeshi. With the scores
almost level after two closely fought days, Taijul's 17-over spell was full of
teasing accuracy. Exploiting any turn off the Mirpur surface, the slow
left-armer had five batsmen caught behind or at slip. Zimbabwe stood
transfixed, collapsing to 114 all out. Taijul's work wasn't quite done, though.
After Bangladesh slipped to seven down, chasing 101, he made an unbeaten 15,
which included the winning boundary.
Rahat Ali
4 for 22 v New
Zealand
first Test, Abu Dhabi
One of those returns where the wickets column perhaps undervalues
the skill and effort. It was a masterful display of control in pace bowling
tailored to subcontinental conditions. After the opening session of the third
day, Rahat had figures of 8-7-1-1 - and the run was off a no-ball. Two yorkers
stood out, the first squeezing through Kane Williamson and the other jamming
into Tom Latham's boot to end a fine century.
Mark Craig
7 for 94 v
Pakistan
third Test, Sharjah
A Test match that continued, after a rest day, under the emotional
cloud of Phillip Hughes' death meant New Zealand could not fully savour a
crushing victory. They were struggling after the first day, but on resumption
Craig, the latest in a long line of slow bowlers tried by New Zealand,
collected the third-best figures by a Kiwi spinner. Not afraid to toss the ball
up - which accounts for some expensive returns at times - he worked his way
through the lower order, with the arm ball proving especially effective in
finding the edge.
Nathan Lyon
7 for 152 v
India
first Test, Adelaide
Haunted by the failures of fourth innings past, notably against
South Africa on the same ground in 2012, Lyon continued to toss the ball up
throughout a see-saw final day. He had one early success but then toiled
without luck as M Vijay and Virat Kohli amassed 185 in 50 overs. Marais Erasmus
seemed particularly disinclined to do Lyon any favours but when he finally gave
the spinner an lbw decision with Vijay on 99, the floodgates opened. India lost
8 for 73 in the final session, with Lyon taking six, including the key wicket
of Kohli. Added to his five in the first innings, it was a Man-of-the-Match
haul in a Test studded with individual brilliance.
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