Importance of 5 fers

[Straight Drive]

A 100 run or 200 run landmark gets lot of analysis whereas the 5 fers are not much considered when going through bowlers records. Even commies will not talk much about 5 fers as much they talk about 100's and 200's. I do believe that like we need batsmen like Chet and Virat who can convert a 80 into a 100 or a big ton or double it is very important for specialist bowlers to have the extra ability to convert a 3 wicket haul into a 5 wicket haul.  Like some batters who do not have the mental toughness to cross the major landmarks, the bowlers should also be mentally tough and skilled to achieve the landmark wicket hauls. Many of our Indian pace bowlers struggle in getting 5 fers. The spinners though are taking 5 fers frequently. The bowlers need to be rated on their ability to take the five wicket hauls. 

 

What are your views as a cricket fan? Should the five fers be expected from specialist bowlers at least or not? Or we just keep looking at 100's and 200's and ignore the bowling landmarks.

 

5 wicket hauls  / innings bowled

 

Anil Kumble - 35/236

Ashwin - 26/99

Harbhajan Singh - 25/190

Kapil - 23/227

Bhuvi - 5/33

Venkatapathy Raju - 5/51

Irfan Pathan - 7/54

Jadeja - 9/64

Venkatesh Prasad - 7/58

Karsan Ghavri - 4/69

Javagal Srinath - 10/121

Shami - 2/50

Manoj Prabhakar - 3/68

Ishant - 7/136

Zaheer - 11/165

Umesh - 1/66

Edited November 24, 2017 by Straight Drive

[sandeep]

6 minutes ago, Straight Drive said:

A 100 run or 200 run landmark gets lot of analysis whereas the 5 fers are not much considered when going through bowlers records. Even commies will not talk much about 5 fers as much they talk about 100's and 200's. I do believe that like we need batsmen like Chet and Virat who can convert a 80 into a 100 or a big ton or double it is very important for specialist bowlers to have the extra ability to convert a 3 wicket haul into a 5 wicket haul.  Like some batters who do not have the mental toughness to cross the major landmarks, the bowlers should also be mentally tough and skilled to achieve the landmark wicket hauls. Many of our Indian pace bowlers struggle in getting 5 fers. The spinners though are taking 5 fers frequently. The bowlers need to be rated on their ability to take the five wicket hauls. 

 

What are your views as a cricket fan? Should the five fers be expected from specialist bowlers at least or not? Or we just keep looking at 100's and 200's and ignore the bowling landmarks.

Taking wickets is crucial.  We can't win a test without taking 20 wickets, no matter how many centuries are hit.  Wicket-taking bowlers should be valued for what they do.  Whether its a proper 5-fer, or a 4 wicket haul like Ash took today is a marginal difference.   I'm actually happier to see a distribution of wickets among the unit, instead of one bowler running away with bulk of the wickets.   

 

Btw, its a bit unfair to bash our pace bowlers for lack of 5-fers.   They don't get the conditions often enough to have realistic chances of taking 5-fers.  Check out Bhuvi's record in the last 5-8 tests or so, I think he has taken a couple of them in a short span already, because he got suitable conditions. 

 

I have high expectations from Shami and Bhuvi for the SA tour, and they don't necessarily need to take 5-fers in an innings to meet them - as long as they close to double digit wickets per test as a pair, they will have done their job.  And I truly believe they will, assuming 100% fitness.

[Straight Drive]

I have updated the 5 fers/ innings in the OP. 

[putrevus]

It is very important for bowler to have 5fers, we want bowlers who on their day have ability to run thru batting line ups.Both our spinners are very good in Indian conditions as they have this ability to run thru line ups.

[Straight Drive]

Yes, i would also like to see us select the bowlers in playing 11 who can run through sides, rather than just pick 2 or 3 wickets when they are having a good day with the ball. imo 2,3,4 wicket hauls look good for all rounders, but a specialist should be able to run through the opposition batting atleast when they are in good bowling form. Specialist bowlers on their day must be looking to contribute with 5,6,7 wickets in a test innings.

Edited November 24, 2017 by Straight Drive