West Indies all-rounder Justin Greaves has recorded one of the most extraordinary bowling spells ever witnessed in Test cricket, becoming the first bowler in the history of the format to deliver five successive wicket maidens in the opening Test against Pakistan at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.
Greaves’ extraordinary spell tore through the Pakistani lower order as he took 5 wickets for only 27 runs, giving him his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket. His accuracy and movement were so unerring that each of the five successive overs in which he took a wicket was a maiden, the first time this has happened in Test history since detailed over-by-over records became available.
The spell began with the wicket of Mohammad Rizwan before Greaves struck Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Abbas, Khurram Shahzad, and finally Mohammad Ali in successive overs. Shan Masood’s fighting century eventually saw Pakistan bowled out for 282, giving the West Indies a crucial first innings lead of 29 runs.
Maiden wickets were the ultimate test of a bowler's control and accuracy, but five in a row is almost unheard of in Test cricket. Greaves bowled disciplined seam bowling with perfect line and length, picking up wickets regularly and not giving the tailenders any chance to score.
It was also a big milestone in Greaves' career. The Barbadian, who is known primarily as a dependable all-rounder, had previously impressed with the bat, including his maiden Test century against Bangladesh in 2024. But it was bowling against Pakistan that caught the attention and etched his name in the record books of cricket.
Justin Greaves produced something new in a format that has created many iconic bowling spells in nearly 150 years. That run of five consecutive wicket maidens is a career highlight for him and another memorable chapter in the West Indies’ rich fast-bowling history, a record that stands alone in Test cricket history.
