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Yasir Shah fastest to 200 Test wickets, breaks 82-year-old record

Yasir Shah 200 wickets
by Wisden Staff 2 minute read

Yasir Shah, the Pakistan leg-spinner, has become the fastest to 200 Test wickets in the third Test against New Zealand at Abu Dhabi on Thursday, December 6.

The 32-year-old reached the milestone when he dismissed Will Somerville, who was trapped LBW after scoring four runs off 34 deliveries.

Shah took 33 Tests to reach the double-century of wickets, breaking the record set by Australian leg-spinner Clarrie Grimmett – in 1936 by three Tests. The leg-spinner boasts of 16 five-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket hauls in his career.

“I think he is consistent. His line and length is perfect and has variations. He can bowl leg-spin, googly and flipper, which is helpful in Test cricket,” said Shahid Afridi in a conversation with ESPN Cricinfo.

“And you know if you are consistent with your line and length and the batsmen — who are now playing aggressive cricket after the introduction of T20 and T10 cricket — can make mistakes.”

The Pakistan bowler, with 27 wickets, is the leading wicket-taker of the series so far.

He produced a Player of the Match performance in the second Test, returning career-best figures of 14-184 in the hosts’ emphatic victory in Dubai.

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