Taijul Islam overtakes Mitchell Starc to enter all-time top five for left-arm bowlers’ Test five-wicket hauls

Bangladesh left-arm spinner Taijul Islam moved into the top five among left-arm bowlers for most Test five-wicket hauls, picking up seven wickets in Zimbabwe’s first innings in Harare on Monday, June 29. The 19th five-for of his career took him level with former teammate Shakib Al Hasan and pushed him past Australia’s Mitchell Starc on the all-time list.

Taijul returned figures of 7 for 138 from 40.2 overs as Zimbabwe were eventually bowled out for 410, taking a 270-run first-innings lead after Bangladesh had collapsed for just 140 on the opening day. His 19th five-wicket haul came in only his 107th innings, three fewer innings than it took Shakib to get there across 121 innings, and well inside the 202 innings Starc needed for his 18.

Where does Taijul Islam rank among left-arm bowlers in Tests?

Sri Lanka’s great Rangana Herath sits well clear at the top of the all-time list with 34 five-wicket hauls from 93 Tests and 170 innings, ahead of Pakistan’s Wasim Akram, who has 25 from 181 innings, and New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori, who has 20 from 187 innings. Taijul and Shakib are now tied for fourth with 19 apiece, with Starc dropping to sixth on 18, just ahead of England’s Derek Underwood, who took 17 from 151 innings, and India’s Ravindra Jadeja, who has 15 five-wicket hauls from 89 Tests.

Left-arm bowlers with the most five-wicket hauls in Test cricket:

The Harare Test had been dominated by Zimbabwe’s batters for most of the first two days. Opener Innocent Kaia struck a maiden Test century, top-scoring with 140, while Wesley Madhevere remained unbeaten on 77 as the hosts piled up 410 in reply to Bangladesh’s 140. Taijul was the lone bright spot for the tourists with the ball, bowling more than 40 overs while the pace attack struggled to make inroads on a placid surface.

What else has Taijul Islam achieved in this Zimbabwe Test?

This was the third time in his career that Taijul has taken seven or more wickets in a Test innings, a feat only three other Bangladesh bowlers, Enamul Haque Jr, Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, have managed even once each. His 7 for 138 also became the best figures by a Bangladesh bowler in an away Test, going past Shakib’s 6 for 33 against West Indies in Kingston. The left-arm spinner remains Bangladesh’s leading wicket-taker in Tests, with this haul taking him to 270 wickets from 60 matches at an average of 30.21.

Zimbabwe completed an innings and 85-run win on the third day, Tuesday, June 30 – their biggest victory in Test history – after bowling Bangladesh out for 185 in the second innings. Blessing Muzarabani took 4 for 65 to seal the win, while Taijul’s seven-wicket haul stood out as the lone positive for Bangladesh from a tour that has gone badly for them so far.