Pakistani leg-spinner Yasir Shah has become the fastest bowler to reach 200 wickets in Test cricket breaking Australia’s Clarrie Grimmett record set 82 years ago.
Shah made the record in just his 33rd Test match surpassing Grimmett’s who took 36 Tests to reach the milestone against South Africa in 1936. He reached 100 wickets in 17 Tests, second only to Englishman George Lohmann who reached the target in 16 matches during a Test in Johannesburg in 1896.
New Zealand, resuming at 26 for 2 on Thursday, fell to 37 for 3 after Yasir removed Somerville and were still needing 37 runs to make Pakistan bat again. Yasir began the Abu Dhabi Test with 195 wickets in 32 Tests and on the opening day grabbed three early wickets but BJ Watling resisted with 77 not out, leaving him having to complete his landmark in the second innings.
Since taking seven wickets on debut against Australia in 2014, Yasir has been a key figure in Pakistan’s Test team. He took 12 wickets in that 2-0 series win over Australia in United Arab Emirates in 2014 and followed that with 15 against New Zealand in a 1-1 draw the same year.
That was followed by 24 wickets against Sri Lanka in 2015 and 10 in a match to beat England at Lord’s a year later. He took 21 and 25 wickets respectively in series wins over the West Indies.
