Yasir sets sights on long-standing record

Having become the first bowler in almost two decades to take 10 wickets in a single day of Test cricket, Pakistan spin sensation Yasir Shah has one of cricket’s longest-standing records in his sights.

Yasir completed a 10-wicket haul in just 13.5 overs on Monday, taking a career-best 8-41 in New Zealand’s first innings and finishing the day with 2-65 in their second after the Black Caps were forced to follow on.

His eye-catching display took him to 191 career Test wickets, putting him on track to smash an 82-year-old record as the fastest bowler ever to the 200-wicket milestone.

Australia’s pre-WWII leg-spinner Clarrie Grimmett is the current record-holder having taken his 200th Test scalp in his 36th match in 1936. It means Yasir, who is partway through his 32nd Test, is poised to shatter Grimmett’s long-standing mark.

Two years ago, Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin fell just short of equalling Grimmett’s mark, taking his 200th wicket in his 37th Test to beat pace legends Dennis Lillee, Waqar Younis (both 38 Tests) and Dale Steyn (39) to the milestone.

Yasir has eight second-innings wickets available to him in Dubai before the third and final Test against the Black Caps in Abu Dhabi next week.

Having played the leading role in NZ’s historic collapse of 9-29 on Monday, Yasir said he knew he was on the verge of a strong performance, even if the speed with which he claimed his third career ten-wicket haul came as a shock.

"When I came (here) in the morning, I was thinking that I had to take 10 wickets in the match," he said having become the first bowler to take 10 wickets in a day since India’s Anil Kumble in 1999.

"I didn't know that I would end up taking 10 wickets in a day.

“Now, I will try to help the team get those eight (second-innings) wickets as quickly as we can."

Since Yasir’s debut as a 28-year-old against Australia in 2014, Ashwin (229 wickets in 43 Tests) and Australia’s Nathan Lyon (206 in 47) are the only spinners to have taken more Test wickets and both have played significantly more Test cricket than the Pakistani leg-spinner.

Having taken eight wickets at 27 in the two-Test series against Australia last month, his first since being sidelined by a hip injury, Yasir said he’s been slowly building back to his best.

"I came (back) from injury and didn't get the needed rhythm against Australia,” he said.

“But now I am getting it and very happy to achieve this feat.

"Sometimes you do feel the pressure here (in the UAE) because spinners get more wickets. So everyone expects you to take wickets. So you need to work even harder."

Fastest to 200 Test wickets

36 Tests – Clarrie Grimmett (Australia

37 Tests – Ravichandran Ashwin (India

38 Tests – Dennis Lillee (Australia

38 Tests – Waqar Younis (Pakistan

39 Tests - Dale Steyn (South Africa

41 Tests - Ian Botham (England

41 Tests - Stuart MacGill (Australia)

*Yasir Shah has 191 wickets in his 32nd Test