Australia fast bowler Scott Boland has scripted history to become the first test bowler with the best bowling average of cricketers since 1915 after bowling a minimum of 2000 balls in the longest format.
Boland achieved the feat during the third test of the Australia tour of West Indies 2025 at Sabina Park, where he registered a figure of 3/34.
He now has a test bowling average of 17.33, which is the best of any bowler in the last 110 years of Test cricket.
England’s Syd Barnes stands above Boland for bowlers since 1900, with the other six bowlers since 1900, with the six bowlers above Scott Boland all hailing from the 1800s and in the infancy of Test cricket.
After marking just 225 in the first innings, Australia picked up on West Indies’ line up dismissing hosts for 143 to take away a first innings lead.
Scott Boland spoiled the work of West Indies top scorer John Campbell who shouldered arm to delivery that nipped back into his pads, and it was the fast bowler’s angle and seam into the right-hander that also led to Shai Hope’s dismissal on 23.
The West Indies hit back late in the Jamaican evening, leaving Australia reeling at 99/6 in their second innings with a lead of 181 when stumps were called on day two.
With Cameron Green unbeaten on 42 and Aussie captain Pat Cummins (5*) at the crease, the Aussies will look to stretch their lead beyond 220 and even to 250 on Day 03.
Best Test bowling average of cricketers active since 1915
- Scott Boland- (2021-Present) 59 wickets at 17.33
- Bert Ironmonger (1928-1933) 74 wickets at 17.97
- Frank Tyson (1954-1959) 76 wickets at 18.56
- Axar Patel (2021-Present) 55 wickets at 19.34
- Jasprit Bumrah (2018-Present) 217 wickets at 19.48
