Discover the grueling endurance of bowlers with our comprehensive look at the most overs bowled without a wicket in a Test innings, highlighting historic spells that tested both stamina and patience.
Most Overs Bowled Without a Wicket in a Test Innings
| Player | Overs Bowled | Maiden Overs | Runs Conceded | Economy | Innings No. | Against | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denis Atkinson (WI) | 72.0 | 29 | 137 | 1.90 | 3 | England | Birmingham | 30 May 1957 |
| Nicky Boje (SA) | 65.0 | 5 | 221 | 3.40 | 2 | Sri Lanka | Colombo (SSC) | 27 Jul 2006 |
| Jack Young (ENG) | 48.0*8 | 9 | 122 | 1.90 | 1 | South Africa | Gqeberha | 5 Mar 1949 |
| Ashley Mallett (AUS) | 64.0 | 31 | 95 | 1.48 | 3 | England | The Oval | 28 Aug 1975 |
| Fazal Mahmood (PAK) | 63.0 | 23 | 98 | 1.55 | 2 | England | Karachi | 2 Feb 1962 |
| Neil Hawke (AUS) | 63.0 | 28 | 95 | 1.50 | 2 | England | Manchester | 23 Jul 1964 |
| Maurice Tate (ENG) | 62.0 | 26 | 108 | 1.74 | 2 | Australia | Melbourne | 8 Mar 1929 |
| John Emburey (ENG) | 61.0 | 10 | 143 | 2.34 | 1 | Pakistan | The Oval | 6 Aug 1987 |
| Subhash Gupte (IND) | 60.0 | 16 | 144 | 2.40 | 2 | West Indies | Delhi | 6 Feb 1959 |
| Monty Panesar (ENG) | 60.0 | 15 | 116 | 1.93 | 3 | South Africa | Lord’s | 10 Jul 2008 |
Key Insights on the Longest Wicketless Bowling Spells in Test Cricket
Longest Wicketless Spells in Test Innings History
West Indies’ Denis Atkinson has bowled the most overs without a wicket in a Test innings. He sent down 72 overs against England in the third innings of the 1957 Birmingham Test.
Pakistan’s Fazal Mahmood has delivered the longest wicketless spell in a home Test. He bowled 63 overs against England in the second innings of the 1962 Karachi Test.
65 overs bowled by South Africa’s Nicky Boje against Sri Lanka in 2006 are the most by a spinner without a wicket in a Test innings.
New Zealand’s Harry Cave has delivered the longest wicketless spell as a captain in a Test innings. He bowled 44 overs against India in the first innings of the 1956 Chennai Test.
Most Expensive Wicketless Spells in Test Cricket
Pakistan’s Khan Mahmood has delivered the most expensive wicketless spell in Tests. He conceded 259 runs in 54 overs against the West Indies in the second innings of the 1958 Kingston Test.
Boje (221 vs SL, 2006) and Ireland’s Ben White (vs SL, 2023) are the other two bowlers who’ve leaked 200-plus runs for zero wickets in a Test innings each.
Most Maidens in a Wicketless Spell and Match Records
Australia’s Edwin Evans bowled 45 of his 73 overs as maidens against England in the third innings of the 1881 Melbourne Test, the most by a bowler in a wicketless spell in a Test innings. (Note: At that time, an over consisted of four balls).
England’s Maurice Tate has bowled the most overs without a wicket across both innings combined in a Test match. He remained wicketless for 100 overs across both innings against Australia in the 1929 Melbourne Test.
Most Overs Bowled Without a Wicket on Test Debut and Final Match
South Africa’s Bob Newson, meanwhile, has sent down the most wicketless overs in his last career Test match. He bowled 57.2 overs (originally 43 overs of eight balls each) against England in the fourth innings of the 1939 Durban Test.
India’s Bapu Nadkarni has bowled the longest wicketless spell on Test debut. He delivered 54 overs against New Zealand in the first innings of the 1955 Delhi Test.
Australia’s Mitchell Swepson (53 vs PAK, 2022) and Evans (73*4 vs ENG, 1881) are the other debutants who bowled more than 50 wicketless overs in Tests.
On the contrary, here is a list of bowlers who have picked the best bowling on their Test debut.