George Lohmann’s 128-Year Record for Fastest 100 Test Wickets

The record for the fastest bowler to reach 100 Test wickets has been held by England’s George Lohmann for nearly 128 years, a feat accomplished in just his 16th match. Lohmann’s illustrious career, spanning 18 Tests, saw him solidify his place in cricket history before retiring in 1896. Known as one of the premier right-arm pace bowlers of his era, Lohmann boasts the best Test bowling average of 10.75 and a remarkable strike rate of 34.1, for a minimum of 2000 balls bowled, according to historical records.

In modern cricket, players like India’s Ravichandran Ashwin and Pakistan’s Yasir Shah have approached Lohmann’s landmark but have not succeeded in surpassing it. Sri Lanka’s Prabath Jayasuriya, showing promising form, may challenge this long-standing record if he captures 12 wickets in his 16th Test match, set against New Zealand in Galle.

Several other iconic bowlers have made impressive strides towards Lohmann’s record over the years. Among them, Australia’s Charles Turner and England’s Sydney Barnes reached 100 wickets in 17 Tests. Turner achieved this milestone against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground on February 1, 1895, following his debut on January 28, 1887. Barnes attained his feat against Australia in Sydney on February 23, 1912, starting his Test career on December 13, 1901.

Additional notable mentions include Clarrie Grimmett of Australia and Pakistan’s Yasir Shah, both reaching the mark in their 17th match. Clarrie Grimmett achieved this against the West Indies in Brisbane on January 16, 1931, following his debut on February 27, 1925. Yasir Shah reached his milestone in a match against the West Indies in Dubai on October 13, 2016, starting his Test career on October 22, 2014.

India’s own Ravichandran Ashwin reached his 100th wicket against the West Indies at Wankhede Stadium in his 18th Test, a commendable achievement albeit short of breaking Lohmann’s long-standing record. Furthermore, a cluster of bowlers, including Colin Blythe of England and Vernon Philander of South Africa, reached the century mark in their 19th matches, demonstrating the unyielding competition among Test bowlers across generations.