The English conditions exemplify the abilities of the quicker bowlers. With the overcast weather conditions brimming and movement off the pitch always, it remains highly plausible for the batters to nick one off to the slip cordon. But the pitches at times, tend to dry up and aid the spinners to an extent. However, for a spinner to achieve fantastic figures in British conditions is not the easiest of tasks. It requires precision of the highest quality to be met with execution.
Today we’ll re-visit the spinners who have taken a 5-fer in the first innings of the women’s test in England:
1. Jenny Owens (AUS)
In the second test of the 1987 Australia’s tour of England at Wetherby. Right-arm spinner Owens spun a web around the England batting line up and picked up career-best figures of (5/55). It helped restrict England to a modest 201 in the first innings. She ran through the middle order and eliminated the possibility of any partnerships for England. The match eventually ended in a draw where Owens scalped two more wickets in the second innings.
2. Olivia Magno (AUS)
During the first test of the 1998 Australia tour of England, Magno barged through the batting lineup of England with her witty leg break which consisted of classical googlies. The wickets column belonged to her, as she even assisted in the run out of Brittin who then had to depart for 146. Her (5/87) remains a career-best figure and is a testament to the ability a leggie possesses.
3. Sophie Ecclestone (ENG)
In the first innings of the 2023 Ashes test, lanky left-arm spinner Ecclestone scalped 5 crucial wickets in a high-scoring inning where Australia scored a mammoth 473. Her height and witty outlook aided the fall of wickets at regular intervals. Her spell included the wicket of Australian skipper Healy who went for naught, off a ball that turned and crashed into the top of the off stump. Ecclestone’s feat of (5/129) will go down in the books as a famous one, considering the dominance from the batting side.
MAIDEN TEST 5-WICKET HAUL for Sophie Ecclestone 🔥🔥
She bowled 46.2 overs, conceding 129 Runs. #CricketTwitter #Ashes2023 pic.twitter.com/ghtFEaZ5jz
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) June 23, 2023