Hit wicket is one of the rarest dismissal types in the game of cricket. This dismissal is generally seen in the shorter formats. The batsmen often try to hit behind the wicket or go deep inside their crease to nullify the yorkers. However, sometimes they end up hitting their foot or the bat to the stumps.
Not every bowler can put the batsman under so much pressure that he gets hit wicket. In this article, we will look at those five bowlers who have dismissed the batsmen most times hit wicket in Test cricket. The fans should note that there is no time pressure generally in Test cricket. Also, the batsmen play less risky shots in this format. Hence, the chances of getting a batsman hit wicket out are relatively lower in the red-ball arena.
6. Kapil Dev – 3
Former Indian captain Kapil Dev is one of the six bowlers to have three or more hit wicket dismissals in Test cricket history. Dev bowled 4,623.2 overs for the Indian cricket team in the game’s most extended format.
In those 4,623.2 overs, Kapil returned with 434 wickets. It is interesting to note out of the 434 dismissals, and only three were in the form of a hit wicket. This statistic shows how rare the hit wicket dismissal is in cricket.
5. Hedley Verity – 3
Former English left-arm medium-pacer Hedley Verity jointly holds the record for the most hit wicket dismissals by an England cricket team player in Tests. Verity represented the English team in 40 Test matches.
Hedley picked up 144 wickets, of which three were in the form of a hit wicket. Verity played Test cricket for the England cricket team from 1931 to 1939.
4. Mulvantrai Mankad – 3
Another Indian player to appear on this list is the legendary Mulvantrai Mankad. The left-arm orthodox bowler represented India in the global cricket arena from 1946 to 1959.
Mankad played 44 Tests for the Indian cricket team, where he picked up 162 wickets at an average of 32.32. Like Kapil Dev, Mulvantrai dismissed three batsmen via hit wicket.
3. Ray Lindwall – 3
Australian fast bowler Ray Lindwall played international cricket for the Aussies from 1946 to 1960. The right-arm quick played 61 Tests for the Australian cricket team.
In those 61 matches, Lindwall scalped 228 wickets. He bowled 1970.2 overs for the Aussies, and in those overs, he dismissed three batsmen via hit wicket.
2. Fred Trueman – 3
Five bowlers have sent three batsmen each to the pavilion by hit wicket mode. Fred Trueman is the fifth name among them. He took 307 wickets for the English cricket team.
Trueman was active in the international arena for England from 1952 to 1965. The right-arm fast bowler bowled 522 maiden overs in his career. Unfortunately, he died in 2006.
1. Graham McKenzie – 4
The only bowler in the history of Test cricket to have four hit wicket dismissals to his name is Graham McKenzie. The Australian fast bowler played Test cricket from 1961 to 1971.
He is 79 years old and will soon turn 80. McKenzie played 60 Test matches for the Australian cricket team and took 246 wickets at a bowling average of 29.79. Some well-known players like Andrew Flintoff, Courtney Walsh, Richie Benaud, and Chris Cairns had two hit-wicket dismissals to their name.
