Test cricket demands unwavering patience, and West Indies pacer Jayden Seales demonstrated this quality on Day 2 of the first Test at Sabina Park, Kingston. Seales delivered a masterclass in precision, conceding only five runs over 15.5 overs, including 10 maidens, and claiming four crucial wickets to mark his name in the history books. His spell marked the most economical performance in Test cricket since 1977.
With an exceptional economy rate of 0.31, Jayden Seales now holds the seventh-best figure in Test cricket history. He surpassed the legendary England pacer Jim Laker, who maintained an economy rate of 0.37 against South Africa in 1957. At the top of this record stands India’s Bapu Nadkarni, who delivered an astonishing economy of 0.15 runs per over against England in 1964, bowling 32 overs with 27 maidens and conceding only five runs.
An absolute beauty from Seales!
He grabs his first of the match!#WIvBAN #WIHomeForChristmas pic.twitter.com/sGAtsy8nuq
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) December 1, 2024
Seales’ lifetime Test record
Seales recorded his name in the record books by delivering the most economical four-wicket haul in Test cricket history. The previous benchmark was set by Pakistan’s Pervez Sajjad, who maintained an economy rate of 0.41 runs per over. Sajjad bowled 12 overs, including eight maidens, conceded just five runs, and claimed four wickets against New Zealand in 1965.
For the West Indies, the record for the most economical rate in an innings is held by the iconic Gary Sobers. The legendary all-rounder delivered an extraordinary spell, conceding just 0.21 runs per over. He bowled 14 overs, including 11 maidens, and allowed only three runs against New Zealand in 1956.
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Jasir Basharat is a cricket enthusiast capturing the heart of the game through insightful analysis and storytelling sharing his passion for the sport through engaging narratives. He is a business graduate from University of Kashmir.
