Top 5 Best Bowling Figures at The Gabba, Brisbane, in Test Cricket

Discover the top 5 best bowling figures at The Gabba, Brisbane, in test cricket, featuring legends like Shane Warne and Sir Richard Hadlee’s iconic spells.

Australia has been long familiar with producing bowling-friendly grounds that fast bowlers really love. The long-distance boundaries and seaming conditions make Australian venues a paradise for tall, pace-dominating bowlers. Of such venues, the Gabba in Brisbane is one venue especially suited to the taste and preferences of fast bowlers. It is a terrain that offers extra pace coupled with steep bounce and unpredictability. Such traits have made it witness various iconic bowling performances in Test cricket.

Still, even the spinners here have made their mark as Shane Warne did, proving that it is possible to do good things in different conditions as well. With this said, let us now relive the top five best bowling figures at The Gabba in test cricket, which list includes both historic performances and recent heroics.

5. Shamar Joseph – 7/68 vs Australia, 2024

In a match that will be etched into the pages of cricketing history, Shamar Joseph served up a spell for the ages as West Indies stunned Australia in the first day-night test in 2024.

Chasing a modest 216 in the fourth inning, the Australians were undone by Shamar’s sheer pace and swing. Bowling with a toe injury, he rattled the Australian batting lineup, taking 7/68 in 12 overs. His determination and skill helped the West Indies seal one of their most memorable wins in modern cricket. Predictably, he was chosen Player of the Match for that match-winning contribution.

4. Keith Miller – 7/60 vs England, 1946

Keith Miller is considered one of the finest all-rounders in Australian cricket and, thus, was at his masterclass best in the first test of the Ashes 1946-47 series played at The Gabba.

Australia responded with a massive 645 runs in their first inning, which laid the platform for Miller to go on a rampage. His 7/60 was enough to reduce England to a miserable 141 runs in their first innings. Australia went on to win by an inning and 332 runs, leaving a resounding statement for the remainder of the series.

3. Shane Warne – 7/23 vs Pakistan, 1995

Shane Warne, undoubtedly the greatest leg spinner produced by Australia, spun magic at Brisbane in 1995. In a spell regarded as one of the best in test cricket, Warne picked up 7/23 and left the Pakistani batting order in tatters.

Pakistan could produce only 97 runs. Australia won the match in an inning and 126 runs. In the finishing stages of the test, Warne was again masterly with the drift and turn, finishing with 11 wickets to his credit, and became the Player of the Match too.

2. Shane Warne – 8/71 vs England, 1994

Warne’s success at The Gabba went beyond 1995. A year before, during the 1994 Ashes, Warne recorded his career-best bowling figures of 8/71 against England.

On a wicket offering minimal assistance, Warne showed the world why he was the best spinner of his era. England were bowled out for 323 in their second inning, and Australia emerged victorious by a commanding 184 runs. Warne once again received the Player of the Match award for his hypnotic spell.

1. Sir Richard Hadlee – 9/52 vs Australia, 1985

The best bowling figures ever at The Gabba in test cricket occurred back in 1985 when the legendary New Zealand all-rounder Sir Richard Hadlee recorded 9/52 against Australia.

Hadlee single-handedly took apart Australia, bundling them over for just 179 runs in their first inning. His total match figures of 15/123 had helped New Zealand to an innings-and-41-run victory. This was one spell that stamped Hadlee’s legacy in the books as one of the greats in cricketing history.

The Gabba has seen some of the finest bowling performances in cricketing history. From Sir Richard Hadlee’s unmatched brilliance to Shane Warne’s wizardry and Shamar Joseph’s heroics, each performance at this iconic venue adds another layer to its rich legacy.

For cricket enthusiasts, revisiting these historic spells is a reminder of how bowlers can transform a game in a single session. The Gabba continues to challenge batters and thrill spectators, ensuring its place as one of cricket’s most iconic grounds.