Five-Wicket Haul in Cricket: A Bowler's Century
A five-wicket haul is when a bowler takes five or more wickets in a single innings, regarded as the bowling equivalent of a batting century.
What Is a Five-Wicket Haul?
A five-wicket haul (or 'fifer') is when a bowler takes five or more wickets in a single innings. It is considered the bowling equivalent of a batting century — a major individual milestone demonstrating sustained wicket-taking ability against a full batting lineup.
Bowling Milestone Hierarchy
| Achievement | Wickets in Innings | Rarity |
|---|---|---|
| Three-for | 3 | Common |
| Four-for | 4 | Notable |
| Five-wicket haul (fifer) | 5 | Major milestone |
| Ten-wicket match | 10 across two innings | Rare |
| All ten wickets | 10 in one innings | Extremely rare |
Five-Wicket Hauls in Limited Overs Cricket
In ODIs and T20Is, taking five wickets is also celebrated but rarer than in Tests because batsmen score faster and bowlers have fewer balls. In T20s especially, a five-wicket haul is an extraordinary performance.
Famous Five-Wicket Hauls
Shane Warne's 'Ball of the Century' Ashes dismissal is followed by many other legendary fifers. Jim Laker's 10/53 at Old Trafford 1956 — taking 19 wickets in the match — remains the greatest bowling performance in Test history.
Frequently asked questions
What is a five-wicket haul in cricket?
A five-wicket haul (fifer) is when a bowler takes five or more wickets in a single innings.
Who has the most five-wicket hauls in Tests?
Muttiah Muralitharan holds the record with 67 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket.
Is a five-wicket haul tracked in ODIs?
Yes, five-wicket hauls in ODIs are tracked and celebrated, though they are rarer than in Test cricket.