Most lbw dismissals by Indian bowlers in a Test innings

Six batters were dismissed lbw in New Zealand’s first innings of the Kanpur test match — the joint most by Indian bowlers in a test innings.

Vs West Indies at Mohali

It has been on three occasions that the Indian bowlers have dismissed 6 opposition batsmen leg before wicket in a single innings in test cricket.

The first such occasion was against West Indies at Mohali in 1994-95 when the Indian bowlers picked up 6 wickets within 159 runs all through lbws.

The Kanpur carnage

The next two instances have come in Kanpur, once in 2016-17 and the next time in 2021-22 when the Indian bowlers dismissed 6 Kiwi batsmen via lbw.

Only two batsmen were dismissed leg before wicket in the first New Zealand innings of the first test match between the two teams at Kanpur.

The first to go was captain Kane Williamson who was caught plum in front of the wickets by Umesh Yadav off delivery that scooted from a length. The next one was Henry Nicholls who was trapped in front of the sticks by Axar Patel.

However, in the second innings, as many as six batters fell to lbw. The first one was Will Young who was dismissed by Ravichandran Ashwin. Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Henry Nicholls all departed via leg before wicket.

Left arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja then dismissed Kyle Jamieson and Tim Southee lbw to complete the tally of 6.

The left-arm wizardry

The reason why so many batsmen were dismissed lbw was mainly because of the threat posed by the two Indian left arm spinners. The thing with bowlers is that some balls spin away from the right handers while others keep coming in with the angle.

As a result, the batters are worried about the ball spinning away and taking their outside edge to the keeper or the slips. That’s why, they keep their bats next to the pad which becomes the second line of defence.

However, when deliveries don’t spin but come in with the angle, the batters are either bowled or trapped leg before wicket in front of the sticks, particularly on spinning tracks.

Despite all the data and preparation, there is not much you can do as a batter against the quality of left arm spinners like Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja.