Bowlers who picked up a wicket with last ball: Over the years, Cricket has become a batsman’s game. In the last one decade, we have seen cricket pitches becoming batting oriented with no grass and moisture on it, boundaries getting shorter and bats getting better, but the ball remains the same.
Nonetheless, great bowlers have always managed to pick wickets and create dominance even on flat wickets.
In the history of Cricket, amidst all the great batsmen that the game has produced, there have also been some sensational bowlers who have created a host of records to their name. Astonishingly, some even holds the record for picking a wicket even on the last ball of their career.
Here’s a look a few of those cricketers | Bowlers who picked up a wicket with last ball:
#1 Glenn McGrath
Known for his accurate and line and length, Glenn McGrath is, unarguably, one of the best fast-bowlers in the history of the sport. One of the few bowlers who have attained success both in white and red-ball cricket, the Australian bowler has dominated world cricket for close to 14 years.
Amongst all his records, he holds an astonishing record of picking a wicket in his last ball of Test, ODI, and T-20 Career.
McGrath bowled the last ball of his Test Career against England and got the wicket of James Anderson. He dismissed Paul Nixon on his last ball in a One-Day career. Glenn McGrath has picked as many as 949 International wickets in his career.
#2 Lasith Malinga
One of the best fast-bowlers Sri Lanka has ever produced, Lasith Malinga has been an asset for the team ever since he arrived in the International arena. The veteran bowler took retirement from all limited over’s cricket on 26th July, 2019.
Malinga played his final One-Day International against Bangladesh at Columba. Bowling the final over of his career, he took the wicket of Miztafizur Rahman on the last ball of his over, putting curtains not only to his stellar career but also to Bangladesh’s innings.
#3 Muttiah Muralitharan
Regarded as one of the greatest spinners of all time, Muttiah Muralitharan has the highest number of International wickets in all formats combined (1347).
The Sri Lankan spinner ended his Test Career against India at Galle. He took the wicket of Pragyan Ojha on the final delivery of his career, and also completed a tally of 800 Test Wickets with that wicket.
#4 Sir Richard Hadlee
New Zealand fast-bowling all-rounder Richard Hadlee was known to be a master of swing bowling. The New Zealand bowler had been a headache for the batsmen for over a decade. Hadlee holds as many as 431 wickets to his name in 86 matches. Playing his last Test match against England, Hadlee ended his career with the wicket of D. Malcolm, getting him leg before on the last ball of his final over.
Interestingly, Richard Hadlee became the first all-rounder to score 1000 runs and pick 100 wickets in ODI’s.
#5 Adam Gilchrist
No, we ain’t joking, Australia’s wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist also makes it to the list.
One of the best wicket-keeper batsmen of all time, Adam Gilchrist was playing the final match of his competitive career. With one wicket left and Mumbai Indians requiring 51 runs in the final over, Gilchrist called upon himself to bowl and took the wicket of Harbhajan Singh only in his first ball of the over; finishing MI’s innings and thereby winning the match for the team.
