Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah made it into the history books by becoming the fastest bowler to take 200 wickets in Test cricket history, surpassing an 82-year old record set by Australian leg-spinner Clarrie Grimmett in the year 1936.
Shah dismissed William Somerville for four runs to achieve this historic milestone in just 33 matches. Grimmett had reached these numbers in 36 matches.
India’s off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin had come close to breaking this record in 2016 but had taken one Test more as he achieved this milestone in his 37th Test.
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The other bowlers in the 200-run club are former Australian pacer Dennis Lillee, former Pakistani pacer Waqar Younis and Proteas speedster Dale Steyn. Lillee and Younis had taken 200 wickets in 38 matches while Steyn did it in 39 Tests.
Shah has been in rampaging form for Pakistan in this three-match Test series against New Zealand where he has taken 22 wickets in the first two matches. He scalped eight wickets alone in the first innings of the second Test in Dubai which Pakistan won to level the series. He had taken six wickets in the second innings.
Shah has established himself to be one of the leading spinners in the world. He had recently picked up 10 wickets in a day, becoming only the second bowler to do so after Indian spin great Anil Kumble’s historic feat in 1999 against Pakistan.
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