Test Cricket has finally resumed after top international teams consistently played quite a many white ball matches, especially in the past six months or so as part of their preparations for the T20 World Cup 2022, which concluded last month.
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The T20 World champions England, made sure that the Cricketing fraternity kept talking about them while playing the longest format as well, as they continued with their popular and successful ‘Bazball’ approach to the same.
Aggressive batting approach from almost all their batters in the line-up, coupled with some bold declarations to the innings in a bid to go for the win has paid rich dividends to the Ben Stokes-side, as they have now won eight of the nine Tests since he took the captaincy responsibility in April this year.
Such has been the side’s batting approach, that despite batting a total of 135.5 Overs combined in both the innings against Pakistan during the first Test match, they played out only 4 maiden Overs.
Again, during the second Test in Multan, they played out mere 9 maiden Overs after batting around 115 Overs across both the innings.
Most maiden overs in Test cricket
Maiden Overs are a common occurrences in Test match Cricket, where the batting side’s approach is to pile on as many runs as possible, without worrying much about the scoring rate.
However, the England Test team’s novel approach has meant that their bowlers get more than an ample time to take the 20 opposition wickets, which ultimately wins one Test matches.
As far as most maiden Overs bowled by a player in the Test format is concerned, the record is held by the world’s leading wicket-taker in the format – Muttiah Muralitharan. The Sri Lankan spinner has bowled 1,792 maiden Overs across 133 Test matches.
The other legendary bowlers following Muralitharan in the list are Shane Warne (1,762 maidens), James Anderson (1,638 maidens), Anil Kumble (1,575 maidens), and Stuart Broad (1,252 maidens).
Most maiden overs in a Test innings by a bowler
| Player | Opposition | Overs | Maidens | Year |
| Alf Valentine (West Indies) | England | 92 | 49 | 1950 |
| Alf Valentine (West Indies) | England | 71 | 47 | 1950 |
| Vinoo Mankad (India) | England | 76 | 47 | 1951 |
| Sonny Ramadhin (West Indies) | England | 72 | 43 | 1950 |
| Tom Vievers (Australia) | England | 95.1 | 36 | 1964 |
