5 bowlers who conceded most runs in an over in Test cricket history

Test cricket is a game of surprises and it gives more thrills over the course of five days of cricket. Being the oldest format of the game, there are many memorable performances that the game has seen. However, considering the format, one always think of playing the whole five days and trying to defend the balls as long as possible.

But now the game has changed. The T20 format has totally changed the dynamics of the game. Now there are a few players who like to go after the bowling in red-ball cricket as well. Thus, we have seen many a time when a bowler conceded more runs in a test match as compared to ODIs. So, in this article, we will discuss top five most expensive overs in the test cricket.

5. Shahid Afridi (27 runs) against Harbhajan Singh

 Talking about scoring runs quickly and Shahid Afridi not being on the list is not possible. Afridi is the fifth on the list of the most runs scored in one over. In a match against India at Lahore in January 2006, when India toured Pakistan. That match ended in a draw. Pakistan declared the first innings at 679/7 and India replied at 410/1. However, the match is remembered for Afridi, who scored 103 off 80 balls. In the 136th over of the Pakistan innings, he started the over with four consecutive sixes and took a double and a single on the fifth and sixth ball. In total, he scored 27 runs in that over.

4. Keshav Maharaja (28 runs) against Joe Root

Being a bowler and featuring in this list is incredible. The South African spinner Keshav Maharaj is fourth on this list. He smashed 28 runs off Joe Root in a match at Gqeberha in January 2020. It was the 82nd over of South Africa's second innings. Maharaj hit the first three balls for three fours and followed it up with two maximums on the next two balls. The last ball also went to the boundary to make it a 28-run over. Maharaj scored 71 runs in that innings.

3. George Bailey (28 runs) against James Anderson

Former Australian skipper is next on the list. George Bailey scored 28 runs off an over by James Anderson. It was the third match of England's tour of Australia. In the 87th over of the second innings of Australia, Bailey took Anderson to the cleaners and hit three sixes and two fours in that over to make it a 28-run over. He hit four on the first ball, then hit a six, and followed it up with another four on the fourth ball. Then he finished the over with two concesucitve sixes. Australia won that match by 150 runs, and Bailey scored 39* off 30 balls in that inning.

2. Brain Lara (28 runs) against Robin Peterson

Brain Lara is second on the list as he was the first one to hit 28 runs in an over in test cricket. The game was between the West Indies and South Africa in Johannesburg. South Africa scored 561 runs in their first innings. In reply, the West Indies scored 410. Brain Lara (202) scored a double century in the first innings. During his innings, he set a world record for scoring the most runs in one over. In the 120th over of the innings from Robin Peterson, he hit him for 28 runs. Lara hit every ball for a boundary. He started the over with one four and followed it with two sixes on the next two balls. On the last three balls, he hit three fours to make it a 28-run over.

1. Jasprit Bumrah (35 runs) against Stuart Broad

Lara held the record for the most runs in an over until Jasprit Bumrah came along. In the fifth and final test match of the series against England, Bumrah hit Stuart Broad for 35 runs in one over. July 2nd, 2022, will be remembered in the history of cricket. In the 84th over of the first innings, Bumrah hit Broad for 35 runs. He hit the pacer for four boundaries and two sixes, and five runs came in wide. In total, Bumrah broke the record of scoring the most runs in an over.