Three most expensive overs in the history of Test cricket

Test cricket is about bowlers and batters grinding it out for five days or less. Both parties are usually unwilling to give away easily in their respective roles. However, batters or bowlers sometimes fail to deliver in a game. There have been times when either of them has got it wrong horribly.

Meanwhile, we will take about three bowlers who got wrong during their Test careers. They are the ones who happen to bowl one of the most expensive overs in the history of red-ball cricket. So without further ado, let’s look at the three most costly overs in Test cricket. Three most expensive overs in Test cricket

1. Stuart Broad vs Jasprit Bumrah

In the rescheduled fifth Test between England and India last year, Bumrah led the team as Rohit Sharma tested COVID-19 positive. Meanwhile, during the first innings, the right-arm pacer, Bumrah, wielded his willow, possibly one of the rare sights.

Against Stuart Broad, he hit 35 runs in an eight-ball over as the former bowled two no-balls and was hit for four on both occasions. Apart from this, the Indian player hit three fours and two sixes in the over. On the last ball of the over, Jasprit took a risky single to retain the strike.

2. Brian Lara vs Robin Peterson

The former West Indies skipper ripped apart South Africa’s left-arm spinner Robin Peterson in 2003-04. In the first Test of the series, the Proteas won the toss and elected to bat first and reached 561 all-out. In reply, thanks to Lara’s double hundred and valuable contributions from others, the team got 410 all-out.

Meanwhile, during his double hundred, the left-hander scored 28 runs in one of the overs bowled by Peterson. The 2004 Champions Trophy-winning skipper, Lara, hit four fours and two sixes. This is the joint second-most expensive over, with two other players doing it as well.

3. George Bailey vs James Anderson

In one of his rare Test appearances, the current chief selector of Australia men’s cricket team ensured he hit James Anderson for fun. During the 2013-14 return Ashes, former Australia’s ODI and T20I skipper scored 28 runs.

The incident happened during the third game played in Perth; Bailey hit 28 runs in the second innings. After taking a lead of 134 runs in the first innings, the Aussies were looking to pile up enough to throw England out of the game. However, before declaring the innings at 369/6, Bailey decided to have fun against Anderson, who has played 178 Tests.